Achakzai posed some serious questions which the prime minster-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif did not respond to. PHOTO: Express/File
As the newly-elected members of 14th National Assembly were just getting acquainted with one other, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), on Monday stirred a heated debate in the session.
Achakzai demanded a ‘sincere commitment’ from all lawmakers that they would not support any dictator and from all political parties that they would not accommodate such politicians.
Just before the election of speaker and deputy speaker was about to begin, Achakzai posed some serious questions which the prime minster-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif did not respond to.
“What is the procedure to make your oath meaningful?” asked Achakzai, who has returned to the lower house after a five-year break. Achakzai said he was mindful of the fact that the lawmakers have taken oath to abide by and protect the Constitution but he was curious as to how they would make their oath ‘meaningful’.
“This assembly is full of people who have supported dictators [in the past] and are now associated with political parties. What would happen if a general decides to take over again? We are mocking Pakistan and its Constitution,” said Achakzai.
He said mere words of the oath were not enough. “All of us should declare that we will not support anyone who abrogates the Constitution,” he added.
Though Achakzai’s concerns were welcomed, some lawmaker said the oath was a commitment in itself. Former premier Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was of the opinion that there was no need for any commitment after taking the oath.
Ijazul Haq, the son of former military dictator General Ziaul Haq, said: “When you talk about the supremacy of the Constitution it has some other requirements: safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.”
Later, Achakzai made another demand and asked for the investigation of the May 12, 2007 in Karachi. MQM’s Kishwar Zehra said her party also wanted an investigation into the May 12 incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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Achakzai truely a brave Pukhtun leader.........
Dictators had always damaged the country and its integrity. All the political parties must agree and must commit to this commitment but mature, progressive approach, honest leadership and justice upon merit also does matters. Else the role of both political (democracy) and dictatorship remains the same” power politics”
have lot of respect for gentleman Achakzai
Debate shall outline that law shall be followed by everyone hence the constitution. Judiciary is responsible for application for all. Government shall ensure who don’t obey the law is accountable whether Judiciary, politician, bureaucracy or anyone
I salute Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), for standing up to the NA members who have been lotas. Not only the generals who have committed high treason be brought to justice but the judges who have aided and abetted must be held responsible and the politicians who supported the generals. The sad thing is from IK to NS; to Hashmi most rightwing party leaders have supported military dictators. Hail to the nationalist leaders of Baluchistan. No wonder they have been killed like Bugti and are always under the army action threat. As they say the worst form of democracy is better than the best form of dictatorship.