Fazl, Asif clash in NA special panel

A special committee formed a day earlier to resolve issues related to the National Assembly on Thursday met for the first time as it inducted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub as its members.

The meeting was marred by an angry outburst by Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif, who irked by criticism from some PTI members announced boycotting the proceedings, but later changed his mind on the request of the JUI-F chief.

PPP's Khursheed Shah, who was elected as chairman of the committee, started the proceedings as the panel discussed ways to run affairs of the National Assembly in a smooth manner.

Speaking in the committee, Mahmood Khan Achakzai welcomed all members, especially Fazl and Omar Ayub. He emphasized that a clear message should be sent that neither the politicians have enmity with any institution nor with any political party. He expressed happiness that all parties had come together.

"What happened, happened. The weakness lies in the fact that while institutions like the military and judiciary are unified, the politicians are not." He said unity among politicians yields positive outcomes. He further added, "If we all unite, we can remove the negative clauses brought in the 1973 Constitution, clearing any filth it may have. We can do it in just one hour if we wish."

In his address, Maulana Fazlur Rahman acknowledged the reality that politics often involves divisions and varying viewpoints. However, he questioned whether state institutions like the judiciary, military, and bureaucracy have the right to engage in factionalism.

"We must protect the military, judiciary, and bureaucracy from this trend," he stated. He said there should be a uniform standard for appointing the chief justice of the Supreme Court and chief justices of provincial high courts.

He criticized the arrest of PTI members in the parliament, stating that it was wrong, just as it was when his own party members were arrested in lodges during the PTI's government. "It was wrong then, and it's wrong now."

Khawaja Asif remarked that it is unreasonable for criticism to only come from one side. "What did the PTI do in its four-year rule?" he asked, referring to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's repeated requests to speak to his ailing wife, which were ignored. "Back then, everything was fine, but now everything is wrong?" he questioned.

He recalled attending the Senate election on a production order and mentioned an incident where he received a call from former ISI chief General Faiz Hameed while he was in the opposition leader's chamber.

"He told me that you have three votes, and you must cast them against Gilani," Asif revealed, adding, "At that time, you all were intoxicated by power and believed that everything was fine."