Achakzai steals the show
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP)’s leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai came to the newly-elected National Assembly on Friday with a purpose, as he not only demanded that Constitution should be respected, but also the supremacy of parliament be taken as the red line by all.
In his no-hold-barred speech, the PkMAP leader not only showed the courage to point out establishment’s role in politics and demanded that the interference should now stop. While admitting that the people have given mandate to jailed PTI leader Imran Khan, the veteran politician demanded that he should be released forthwith.
Referring to a line in oath, which states that the oath-taker would continue to abide by the Constitution and defend it, Achakzai said that everyone knows that the establishment continued to play with the Constitution, asking: “How could we defend the Constitution”.
Achakzai regretted that some people wanted to turn the house, representing the people of Pakistan, into a cattle market. Currently, Achakzai said that the politics had reached to a point where the one who was sold or the one, who was buying a politician, were considered loyals, but the one who refuses to become part of this sell and purchase was declared a traitor. “To hell with such approach,” he said.
Calling PPP a democratic party, recalling PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif used to raise the slogan of ‘Vote Ko Izzat Do [respect the vote] and stressing that Imran Khan had come in parliament via vote, Achakzai suggested that a resolution should be passed that “the establishment and security institutions will have no role in the politics of Pakistan.” It’s not a bad thing to suggest, he said, adding that all these parties admit that and were not oblivious to such interference.
In his speech, Achakzai said that the house should also pass a resolution that parliament will be the real source of Pakistan’s internal and external policies. “Only it [parliament] will make polices and no general will come in it,” he said amid desk thumping.
Emphasising the importance of having an army and intelligence agencies, Achakzai said that they themselves should show grace and truly disassociate themselves from politics, otherwise, people’s power would be utilised to push them back to garrisons.
Achakzai said that all the politicians from Jati Umra – the Sharifs brothers’ residence in Lahore – to the incarcerated PTI chairman would salute all the judges, politicians and political workers, who respected the Constitution, adding that all those who disrespected it were “Murdabad” [down with violators].
Addressing the newly-elected National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Achakzai said that parliament was attacked this time around as well, recalling that democratic and non-democratic forces had been fighting since Pakistan came into being.
He, however, lauded thousands of Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun and other political workers, who, while defying all odds, turn the tables on “yours and the generals’ plans” about the recently-concluded general elections.
“Otherwise, you all had already distributed all the key offices among yourselves,” he said, questioning: “If it all was inherited from one’s father.” He said: “Bravo those workers, regardless of their political affiliation,” adding that they swept away the system like a flood.
Recalling how judges were sent packing for opposing martial laws, he demanded that parliament should pass a resolution that all those judges, who opposed martial laws, should be declared “heroes of the Constitution”.
He demanded that their families should be given financial support, while those who supported martial laws should be stripped off of all the perks and privileges. This, he said, was the way forward to save and run Pakistan.
He demanded that all the common citizens, who sacrificed their lives for democracy should be declared “heroes and martyrs of democracy” regardless of their ethnicity or faith. He demanded that all the three major political parties – PMLN, PPPP and PTI – should say it on oath that parliament would be the real source of power and no general or spy agency would be allowed to interfere in politics.
He alleged that the men in uniform, who took bribes from anyone, should be sacked. “Judges, generals and all of us should repent for what we have done to Pakistan. The generals should continue working within their constitutional framework. “The people have high hopes from parliament.”
Referring to the votes that the PTI obtained in the general elections, Achakzai said when people of Pakistan gave vote to Imran Khan then changing it was treason with Pakistan and its people. He also demanded the release of Imran and others political workers, currently in jails.