Role in IJI: Kaira urges action against Hamid Gul

Advises former general to control his use of inappropriate language against parliament.

ISLAMABAD:

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira scathingly criticised Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Gul on Thursday, when he called on the Supreme Court and the military to take action against the former director general of the Inter Services Intelligence for his role in the IJI scandal.

Speaking to reporters at a seminar organised by SAARC, Kaira advised the former general to control his use of inappropriate language against the parliament. He asked the Supreme Court to take notice of Gul’s statement in which he confessed his role in financing the formation of the IJI, which was formed to block the path of a democratically elected PPP government.

“Whatever he did as a general is before the people of Pakistan. He (Gul) is trying to save face by issuing provocative and contemptuous statements,” he remarked. Kaira added that Hamid Gul’s statement about not recognizing Bangladesh is a violation of the constitution. He said such statements could ruin Pakistan’s relationship with other countries in the world because Pakistan not only recognizes Bangladesh, but considers it an independent sovereign state. Mincing no words, the minister called for the military and the country’s premier intelligence agency to investigate the actions of Gul, during his time in office.

Judiciary

In a response to questions about the government’s relationship with the judiciary, the minister said “political institutions are playing an active role in the country and know how to move forward. We do not need advice from anywhere. Judiciary should not be dragged into issues of political nature.”

Referring to the recent precedent of a US court ruling against the court’s passing judgment on issues of a public nature prior to the decision of the people, Kaira said courts in the country should demonstrate restraint on political matters rather than complicating the existing situation.

Calling the judiciary a respectable institution for all segments of society, the minister said it should avoid commenting on political institutions in order to maintain its respect.

Climate Change

Earlier, while addressing the seminar on “Engaging SAARC for Disaster Resilience,” Kaira said Pakistan realises that managing climate change and the accompanying risks is not possible without regional cooperation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2012.