Only ‘executive’ can comment on political parties, says apex lawyers' body

PBC vice-chairman says only executive should speak about the activities of a political party

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Saturday said that under the Constitution of Pakistan, only an executive of the country was responsible to speak about activities of a political party and take any action against it.

“Pakistan being the democratic republic as per its Constitution is supposed to be governed and run under the constitutional mandate which specifically determines and prescribes the role and duties of different organs of [the] state,” Vice-Chairman PBC Syed Amjad Shah said in a statement issued today.



Shah added, “It is, therefore, the responsibility, under the constitution, of the executive to speak about activities of a political party and take an action against it if such activities are found against the interest and sovereignty of the State.”

“Any other institution, in no way, is authorised under the Constitution, to comment upon and take action in that regard.”

The vice-chairman said that the military spokesperson’s recent remarks regarding activities of a specific political party are “…not in accord with constitutional provisions…”.



Last month, the military spokesperson had hinted at possible legal action against the leadership of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), stating that “those who are playing in others’ hands, their time is up”.