NA resolution seeks to overturn Bhutto verdict

PPP demands highest award for ZAB; SIC slams arrests of PTI activists

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution to declare the death penalty awarded to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, while senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) repeated their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

During a National Assembly session, with Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah in the chair, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers protested against a ban on the meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan and the arrest of party leaders. They demanded action against police officials responsible for the arrests.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member of the National Assembly Shazia Marri moved the resolution against late Bhutto’s death penalty nearly 45 years ago. The resolution was opposed by the SIC, but it sailed through the lower house of parliament with a majority vote.

According to the resolution, the opinion of the Supreme Court given on a presidential reference about the Bhutto case earlier this month was commendable. In view of the apex court’s view, the resolution said that the “unjust decision” should be reversed and Bhutto be declared a martyr.

Read more: SC admits Bhutto’s unfair trial after 44 years

The resolution demanded Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, be conferred upon the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto besides a new award, the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Award, should be established for those who sacrificed their lives for democracy.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gauhar Ali Khan opposed the resolution, saying that the opposition did not agree with this resolution. He emphasised that the resolution moved by PPP was not unanimous. Later, the house passed the resolution with majority.

During a session, PTI’s Omar Ayub Khan criticised CEC Raja and other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He claimed that Raja was being posted as Pakistan’s high commissioner to Canada.

Ayub also criticised the authorities for deny them a meeting with the PTI founder Imran Khan at the Adiala Jail because of the security concerns. “We showed him [a jail official] the court order but he threw it away,” he added.

He also raised the issue of arrests of the PTI activists in Punjab. He also condemned the harrassmet of party leader Sardar Latif. The chair ordered an investigation into the matter and sought a report. Ayub also demanded judicial probe into the allegations of rigging in the elections.