PTI says talks only way to end political chaos

Fawad insists all should sit together to finalise rules for elections

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry has reiterated that dialogue is the only way forward to end the current political chaos in the country.

Addressing a news conference along with former federal minister Hammad Azhar on Saturday, Fawad insisted that the government, the establishment, and the PTI had to sit together to finalise the rules of the game for elections. “However, you (the establishment and rulers) have to accept the people of Pakistan’s right to vote,” he underscored.

Appreciating the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) political thought, Fawad said the PPP had said two positive things. “Firstly, it refused to become part of the malicious campaign against the superior judiciary and secondly, it underlined that political parties did not end the way towards dialogue.”

Commenting on the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting held on Friday, the former information minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should step down from his position after the irresponsible statement that the nuclear state was at the mercy of terrorists and it could not afford $20 million for holding elections.

Read more: President Alvi returns bill limiting CJP's powers to parliament

“What message is the incumbent government giving to the international community,” he asked. “If the government had a little sense, such an irresponsible statement would not have been issued.”

He pointed out that the relationship among the Arab world was changing rapidly. Several imported developments were being made in the region but Pakistan, which remained one of the main stakeholders in the past, he said, had been sidelined owing to the incompetence and negligence of the incumbent rulers.

During the PTI regime, he highlighted, Imran Khan had organised two meetings of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and raised voice for the Kashmiris and Palestinians at all international forums. Unfortunately, he said, today no voice was being heard for the people of Kashmir and Palestine.

In fact, the imported rulers had created Kashmir and Palestine-like situation in Pakistan by opting for aggression and registering false cases against its own people.

Fawad reiterated that free and fair elections were the only solution to the current political and economic crises. “Every gallop survey shows 80% of the businesses are disappointed with policies of the current government. Over 800,000 highly skilled professionals have left Pakistan owing to the uncertain situation of the country.”

The PTI leader said the government was trying to divert public attention from elections by hatching conspiracy against the judiciary.

He underscored that debate on the formation of Supreme Court benches was not a public issue but free and fair election was.

He said the demand of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial’s resignation was also an attempt to divert attention from other important issues.

“The incumbent rulers are pushing the country towards a much bigger crisis by hatching such conspiracies.”

The country had reached to this extent owing to the present leadership, he maintained.

Fawad said his party had relationship of respect with all judges of the apex court. Sharing his views on Justice Athar Minallah’s dissenting note, he said: “We have a relationship of respect with Justice Minallah. No one can point a finger at Justice Minullah and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.”

The former federal minister also hailed President Arif Alvi’s decision to return the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 curtailing the powers of the country’s top judge.

“The president took a right decision by sending back the bill. The nation stands with the judges and CJP Bandial is the most popular judge in the history of Pakistan for not accepting pressure and upholding the Constitution. The entire nation is standing with the Supreme Court,” he said.