Speaking against army can lead to disqualification from Parliament: Chaudhry Shujaat

The PML-Q chief also says that he will not let the PPO pass under any circumstances.

LAHORE: Speaking against the army can lead to disqualification from the Parliament according to Article 63 of the Constitution, stated Chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain while addressing a function in Lahore.

Referring to the treason case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Hussain said that if Article 6 of the Constitution was being brought to the limelight then Article 63 should be looked at as well.

On March 31, Musharraf was formally charged for subverting and circumventing the Constitution by imposing emergency on November 3, 2007. Musharraf had rejected the charges levelled against him.

Even though Article 63 is present in the Constitution, people who had spoken against the army have not apologised as of yet, the PML-Q chief further stated.

You can view the five charges levelled against Musharraf here.

PPO

Speaking about the new controversial ordinance, Hussain stated, "We will never let the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance to pass."

The ordinance is a document that declares all peace-disrupting elements as ‘enemies of the state’, and states protection of life to be the state’s top priority.

This controversial bill has received a lot of opposition and criticism from various political parties. It was challenged in the Supreme Court on April 9 by social worker and advocate Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi. He had filed the petition stating that it violated basic human rights.

On October 20 last year, President Mamnoon approved the Ordinance, stamping his approval following advice from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.