Islamabad: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated on Tuesday that the former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s case should be investigated by the judiciary, and that two former chief executives, Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gilani, should be disqualified from holding public office.
While speaking to the National Assembly, he attacked the judiciary amid worries that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would face contempt charges due to ongoing conflict between the two institutions over a number of issues, including when to hold elections. After CJP Umar Ata Bandial said that political parties wanted to “pick and choose” the bench for “desired judgments,” Asif made his statement shortly after.
“Yousuf Raza Gilani is disqualified from membership of parliament from April 26, the date of his conviction. He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan,” said then-chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, reading the order.
“We are holding dialogue with our opponents but it does not come in the precinct of the court to dictate us for negotiations,” Khawaja Asif said.
A house committee, he further added, should also be constituted to examine the cases decided by the judiciary in the past. He said the facts should come before the masses.
The defence minister went on to say that the government respects the top court but it should operate within its constitutional domain. He added that parliament is the supreme institution and being a defender of the Constitution will not allow any extra-constitutional step.
The senior leader of the PML-N said that parliament will not surrender its authority. “We should get united for the sanctity and dignity of the house by rising above our differences.”
The elected representatives come to parliament with the mandate of the people, he said, adding that the foundation of their career is based on public service.
Speaking on the occasion, the federal minister also asserted that the tradition of sacrificing prime ministers on the altar of justice should come to an end. “We should protect our [every] prime minister irrespective of his political affiliation,” he added.
“We confess our crimes but what will the Supreme Court do to clear its past,” asked the defence minister.
