NA passes resolution supporting democracy

MNAs urge Imran Khan to resolve differences with govt

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly unanimously passed on Tuesday a resolution calling for safeguarding and strengthening democracy, as the lower house, once again, discussed the ongoing political crisis in the country.

The NA sought commitment from members of Parliament (MPs) to continue their efforts and to keep playing their due role for supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament.

The original draft of the resolution, circulated in the media by the National Assembly secretariat, stated, “We (MPs) promise that we would not let any conspiracy succeed, against constitutional institutions and the Constitution of Pakistan” before being passed it was interestingly watered down to, "We promise to keep playing our role for supremacy of the constitution and constitutional institutions”.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMap), incitiated the move, warning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) that its  ‘Azadi’ march in Islamabad on August 14 might slip out of hand as there are ‘some people’ with him “who are ready to do anything”.

“I will not leave this House unless a resolution [in support of democracy] is unanimously passed,” said the perturbed leader, while adding, “I will revolt against the person, whosoever it is, if there is any effort to mutilate the      Constitution.”

Later on, Minster for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal moved the resolution which stated, “This house felicitates the nation on the eve of the 68th Independence Day. Pakistan is the first Islamic country which came into being as per vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah through votes. The elected Parliament had been working for supremacy of the constitution and democracy and would continue to do so. We are certain that Pakistan’s stability and progress is attached only with democracy, therefore, we promise to keep playing our role for supremacy of the constitution and constitutional institutions”.

Talking about the marches of the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Iqbal said that they were actually an attack on “democracy, Constitution and Parliament,” further warning that “this federation would no longer exist if the Constitution is tempered this time around”.

He also suggested that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamat-e-Islami and others who believe in democracy hold rallies in support of democracy.

Although members from the Opposition supported the resolution, PTI MNA Murad Saeed defended his party, saying said the government would be responsible if democracy was derailed. He said that it was the democratic right of the people to hold protest rallies against rigging in the 2013 general elections.

Saeed said that the government was lying to the nation regarding its one-year performance and said the ‘Azadi’ march was a must for real democracy in the country. He also asked the government to remove any hurdles (containers), while labeling the government step undemocratic.

Abdul Sattar Bachani of the PPP said that his party had offered many sacrifices for the revival of democracy in the country, but had not asked its workers to kill former military dictator General Ziaul Haq even after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hung.

“I am surprised one person [Dr Qadri] is declaring himself a martyr and is propagating anarchy in the country,” he said, while referring to Qadri’s speech in Lahore, wherein he asked workers to take action against both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif if something happened to him.

While the PPP leader censured Qadri, he pointed out that the treasury benches did not seem serious to resolve issues amicably.

Lt General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch of the PML-N urged people not to participate in the ‘Azadi’ march or the revolution saying, “I urge mothers not to let their children attend any rally as some people wanted blood in the streets.”

To PTI’s demand of fresh elections, he said, “Imran Khan has no right to take decisions on my behalf (people of Balochistan) or on behalf of Sindh”.