–Govt to take formal stance on Musharraf case verdict after legal consultations
–Firdous says PM wants to bolster support to state institutions to ensure their independence
–PM’s aide says Pakistan not on back foot, wants to play active role for unity of Muslim states
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that any confrontation between national institutions will be harmful for the country, as the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) core committee took stock of the situation emerging after the special court’s pronouncement of the death sentence to former military strongman General (r) Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case.
“The government firmly believes in the supremacy of the constitution and ensuring the rule of law,” PM Imran reportedly told his party’s senior leadership, adding that unity is needed in order to tackle national challenges and defeat external enemies of Pakistan.
The prime minister lauded the services of the Pakistan Army in the war against terrorism, saying the armed forces have rendered matchless sacrifices and restored peace in the country.
According to informed sources, the PM barred federal ministers and government spokespersons from issuing statements on the verdicts of the Supreme Court and special court.
Briefing the media about the discussions held during the core committee meeting, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the government will take a formal stance on the high treason case verdict after holding in-depth consultations with the legal team.
Firdous said that Barrister Ali Zafar and Dr Babar Awan briefed the party about the verdict of the special court. She added that it was decided that legal team of the party would brief the cabinet about the specifics of the case.
“The prime minister told the core committee that the institutions of Pakistan are the pillars of the state and the state’s interest will always be supreme at any cost,” she said, adding that “we have to bolster our support to the state’s institutions and make them independent and stand by the rule of law”.
MALAYSIA SUMMIT:
Speaking about the cancellation of Pakistan’s participation in a conference of Muslim countries in Malaysia, Firdous said that Pakistan wants to play a vital role for the unity, harmony, and cooperation among the Muslim countries.
“Pakistan’s relations with Muslim Ummah are beyond any doubt and its ties with Turkey and Malaysia are very strong and we are not on a back foot,” she said, adding that Saudi Arabia has always come forward in helped Pakistan generously to cope with economic challenges.
She said that PM Imran and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi informed the core committee on the decision to not attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit. “The prime minister and the foreign minister spoke in detail about the backdrop in which the decision was made,” she said.
The PM’s aide said that Pakistan has strategic interest in the region, especially with regard to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). “OIC is a platform which 57 countries of the Muslim Ummah are a part of and the Ummah’s unity is the need of the hour,” she said.
ECP ISSUE:
The special assistant said that the core committee gave a task to the parliamentary committee to resolve the issue of appointment of chief election commissioner (CEC) in consultation with National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser.
She said that the committee is expected to develop consensus on a candidate and “to fulfill its constitutional and legal responsibility to restore the ECP’s functioning”.
She also termed the practice of two parties getting together to decide on the appointment of a regulator as “contrary to the parameters of democracy”.
“A regulator is never handpicked or appointed out of choice,” she added.
She recommended that the parliament review the criteria of appointment for the future because a regulator must be appointed “on merit, competency, qualifications, and overall with a fair and free mechanism”.
“It is important to empower an institution rather than parties or individuals,” she stressed.
The special assistant also said it was also decided that the party would be re-organise before the local bodies’ elections.
Regarding the controversial and discretionary citizenship act imposed by the Indian government to target Muslims, Firdous said that the core committee condemned this move. She also said the prime minister exposed the ugly face of India during his recent visit to Switzerland.
“Imran Khan, during his speech at the refugee conference in Geneva, showed the real face of India which is committing atrocities against innocent Kashmiris,” she added.
Firdous said that the core committee commended the efforts of the prime minister for highlighting Kashmir issue and gross human rights violations in the valley at the hands of Indian occupation forces.
Talking about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s plea for removal of name from the Exit Control List (ECL), she said that her request will be treated as per law.
