ISLAMABAD: On Friday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to convene an entire court to hear the case involving the election date and to review cases beginning with the Panama case, in which former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was found ineligible.
Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said in a fiery speech on the National Assembly floor that the issues at hand are crucial and that the entire Supreme Court should convene and work to find long-term solutions. The minister added that the full court should hear the election date suo motu case but cautioned against going too far in his criticism. It has complained that lawmakers criticize judges by mentioning them by name. Why are some judges not criticized, I want to know.
Asif stated that we would also bring up the issue if judges made decisions that fell under the purview of the parliament. He questioned why Justice Nasir ul Mulk wasn’t criticized but Former Justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Khosa were. The judiciary should provide a response to this query. “It is not the role of the judiciary to rewrite the Constitution. This is the result of the revisions made to Article 63. It was unfair how Nawaz Sharif’s government was overthrown. Asif emphasized to the judiciary that it was a judge who first introduced the doctrine of necessity. The PML-N leader continued by saying that politicians always work to serve the interests of their constituents.
“Everyone knows what we do however, no one should tell us that they are not dirty. There will be people who will remain in history and their names will be taken with respect,” said Asif.
Asif taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”s campaign for court arrests by claiming that Qureshi’s son showed up to post bail for his father the day after his arrest. “When we were detained for several days in our political life, no one came for us. We were placed on remand for 90 days. PM and his daughter spent several days in jail. For this, nobody received bail. On the other hand, they [PTI] receive immediate bail, the minister said. The PML-N emphasized that the nation was created through political conflict rather than with “sponsored person” assistance. “They pose for pictures in front of a police van before departing for their residence. Jail Bharo Tehreek failed to succeed. Now, the phrase “Doob Maro Film” (Go Die Film) should be used,”
According to the minister, those who supported former prime minister Imran Khan will go down in history and will learn a lesson. “They inflicted anger on the nation. According to the lawmaker, the judiciary shouldn’t establish precedents of the kind that are currently being done. Imran instructs his party members to offer their arrests but refuses to leave his house. He then obtains pre-arrest bail. Since Imran went to his own hospital, his medical record has not yet been completed, according to Asif. The PTI leader, he continued, views Pakistanis as fools.
The minister stated that the nation’s crisis needed to be resolved and accused the Supreme Court of adding to the difficulty by interjecting itself into political matters. The PML-N leader reminded the audience that his party sacrificed their government and went to jail during the movement for the restoration of the judiciary. “I was arrested shortly after I resigned and was released after 26 days.” Among others, lawyers in particular have made significant sacrifices. While the movement was going on, I was there as a member of a negotiation team. I was an official from the PML-N. Through a political battle, we freed the judiciary. I am aware of it, the minister declared. Asif exhorted the judiciary to “demonstrate its grace.”
“I would say, correct the mistakes of the past which you have made so that the structure of the state could rely upon a strong foundation that no one can ever dare to challenge it. Do not generate controversies. Do not rewrite Article 63. If such would continue to happen God forbid, an unfortunate incident could take place,” warned Asif.
The minister told the assembly that the incumbent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government had inherited the economic mess from Imran Khan.
“We are trying to pull the country out of this economic situation. We know people are heavily burdened. We are cleaning the mess of the last govt which will take time,” said Asif.
The lawmaker alleged that the PTI chief abused all of his well-wishers and those who supported him in bringing in into power.
“Imran Khan bites the hands of those people who feed him. First time in history the appointment of chief of army staff was made controversial,” said Asif.
In his address the Asif also briefed the assembly on his meetings in Afghanistan.
The defence minister said that the interim Afghan government had “responded very well” to Pakistan’s requests.
“But the question is, would we launch the accountability of ourselves? People demand answers for the terrorist attacks. The lives of people and our law enforcement agencies’ personnel are endangered,” said Asif on the rising terrorism in the country.
The minister said that he signs letters to the martyr’s families every month, lamenting that the were unfortunately increasing day by day.
The PML-N leader also shared that former DG ISI Lt Gen (retd) Fiaz and former chief of army staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa were sitting in the National Assembly when they said that the Taliban have become peaceful.
“Is there anyone who can ask them about this? People will forget in some months the terror incidents but the victims will not. 86,000 lives were lost due to terrorism,” said the minister.
The minister said that there are people who come on foot to the parliament, on the other hand, there are people who have king-like lifestyles but no one dares to question them.
“When they travel on the road curfew is imposed,” he said.
