PM's SC appearance reflective of commitment to rule of law: Fawad

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appearance before the country's apex court on short notice reflected the ruling party's adherence to the rule of law and the respect it gave to the judiciary.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, after accompanying the premier to the APS suo motu hearing, the information minister said PM Imran complied with the court order “as enforcement of the rule of law and Constitution is an important part of PTI's manifesto”.

Referring to the APS tragedy, the minister said that the incumbent government could "have very easily blamed our rival, PML-N, as they were in power at that time", but some matters "require national unity".

“Today, the SC has given four weeks to submit a report,” he said. “The main handlers have already been eliminated. The Supreme Court has ordered to determine the individuals who bear the moral responsibility.”

He added that all the political parties had put their differences aside on the matter and constituted the National Action Plan (NAP) after a prolonged discussion.

“This was the time when the judges were not taking any decision and military courts had to be formed. Such was the nature of the situation,” the minister said further.

“Intelligence failures do occur. We have almost eliminated terrorism from Pakistan,” the minister stated and added that the ratio of terror incidents was very low during PTI’s three years in power.

He added that even today, the same National Action Plan was being carried forward by the government.

"After the National Action Plan, our lives have returned to normalcy today. The credit goes to the armed forces, the security agencies and the Parliament for the role it played unanimously.” said the minister.

Read SC adjourns hearing of APS case after PM Imran briefs bench

Fawad further said that Pakistan went through a very difficult time during the fall of Kabul and any other country would have been destabilised and added that all national institutions including administration, judiciary and other institutions have to fulfil their responsibilities.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, flanking the information minister, said the decision of the Supreme Court applies to everyone.

“Its decisions also apply to the government and the prime minister, so whatever the Supreme Court says, the PM will adhere to it as the Supreme Court is also a part of democracy,” he said. “There is no danger. PM Imran would complete his term.”

He said transparency would be ensured with the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections, adding Prime Minister Imran Khan had reaffirmed the commitment of his government to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

He said the Prime Minister always spoke in favour of transparent elections while he expressed his displeasure over the electoral system since 1970. He said PM Imran Khan wanted to address the issue of distrust of the country's people on this electoral system.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)