Minister rebuffs rumour of govt change

Akeel Malik says such claims are figment of some imagination

LAHORE:

Rumours regarding formation of a national government or a dissolution of the National Assembly are unfounded and illogical and there is no basis to them, State Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Akeel Malik said on Friday.

"These rumours are just a figment of someone's imagination. The government will complete its full tenure," Barrister Akeel claimed. He denied knowledge of any development that could potentially threaten the Shehbaz Sharif government.

A source within the PPP told The Express Tribune said rumours were rife in Islamabad about a potential change in the government. He said he had been hearing these rumours for the past several weeks but the rumours mongers had gone louder after the passage of the 27 Constitutional Amendment.

He said as per his reading, powers that be wanted to lead the show all by themselves. Government has served its purpose, now it offers no more advantage to them, he claimed.

He said now even if the government was shown the door, the establishment would remain all powerful. The source claimed that an interim setup led by Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi remained a real possibility.

"There was no need for a life-long immunity, if overthrowing this government was not on his bucket list. PM Shehbaz Sharif will forever remain his favourite player, but the desire to enjoy public recognition as the head of state apparently is too enticing," he said.

On the other hand, Barrister Akeel Malik said Article 243 was brought to streamline the command structure in all three forces and improve synergy between them, while changes in judiciary were long overdue and were even agreed in the Charter of Democracy.

Asked why did the government bestow ranks twice on the chief of army staff (COAS) for one victory, and why did government place the COAS over and above other forces, even when the modern war dynamics give air force a more crucial role, Malik said the army has always been in a commanding role, and the new structure was in line with the existing dynamics. He refused to further comment.