The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) feels that the Supreme Court (SC) has acted on its policy of ‘judicial restraint’ to ensure the country is not harmed. The party’s reaction came to Tuesday’s order on a controversial agreement that gave blanket immunity to politicians and bureaucrats during Musharraf’s era.
The party’s stance was made public by one of its key members, the retired Supreme Court justice Wajihuddin Ahmed. He was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday about the SC’s interim order and the options detailed in it.
The party seems to prefer the sixth option in the SC order on the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which highlights that power rests with the people through their elected representatives. “An early call to the electorate seems to be the option,” Ahmed said. “If things are controversial and the situation is worsening, then there is a need to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate.”
If that option is exercised by the government and fresh elections are called, the Imran Khan-led party is prepared. “The PTI is ready to contest the elections,” said Dr Arif Alvi, the PTI’s secretary general.
According to Naeemul Haque, the party’s Sindh president, “We will field a candidate from every constituency in Karachi. We are also getting support from people who traditionally support the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and we expect to win four to five seats in Karachi.”
“The Supreme Court has followed on its policy of judicial restraint and did not lose patience. It does not want democracy to be derailed,” Ahmed said. The former judge added that the apex court was the best suited to decide, in the light of evidence, whether a prime minister had violated their oath.
As far as the case of former president Pervez Musharraf is concerned, Ahmed said, “This is not just about the killings of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti. It is also about democracy, which he killed twice.”
While Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan has said that Musharraf will be arrested if he arrives in Karachi, based on the former president’s announcement that he will land in the city at the end of the month, Ahmed noted that “such personalities are not ready to face jail.”
“Unlike Gandhi and Nehru, they are never ready to go to jail. There have been developments to obtain bail before arrest and I believe the Islamabad High Court has also been moved.
I cannot comment on matters being heard by the court but I will say that if a political leader is brave there should not be an issue with going to jail. This is the rule of politics.”
Ahmed also hit out at Musharraf for the damage caused to the economy. “The current government is right in claiming that Musharraf left a crippled economy behind. That said, this government has also left no stone unturned in causing damage.”
When asked to comment on Musharraf reportedly seeking assurances from the US and Saudi Arabia prior to his arrival, Alvi said, “Superpowers should not interfere in Pakistan”.
He said backdoor diplomacy couldn’t yield any assurances when the constitution itself gives Musharraf, as a Pakistani citizen, the right to justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2012.
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By the end of the article, I lost track of who said what!
Yes, power to the people. Make it electric power and gas energy. This poverty-stricken, hungry and tired nation is not interested in your silly 'power' games anymore.