Political tightrope: PML-Q seeks constitutional solution, SC told
Seeks court direction to all parties to end the logjam
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), an ally of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) which has been staging a sit-in in the federal capital since August 16, submitted a written reply to the Supreme Court on Monday, requesting a court direction to all political parties to resolve the prevailing political impasse within the parameters of the Constitution.
“It would be appropriate to leave the ongoing political impasse to the political leadership to resolve,” the PML-Q said, adding that the party leadership was also making efforts to work out a constitutional solution to the political imbroglio.
The reply, submitted by PML-Q’s attorney Advocate Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan, carries significant weight as it comes after the party’s president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, suggested a military takeover in a recent press statement.
Filed in reply to a Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bar Association petition, the PMLQ reply contended that in the name of democracy, the Sharif brothers have established a dictatorship in the country.
“The current political situation and protests have cropped up in the backdrop of certain political issues and massacre of innocent people in Model Town, Lahore,” it said referring to the killing of 14 PAT workers in the June 17 clashes with the police at the central secretariat of Minhajul Quran International.
“The 2013 general elections were the most disputed elections in the history of the country, wherein almost every political party and stockholder alleged massive institutional rigging in one way or the other,” the PML-Q claimed in its reply, questioning the validity of the national and provincial legislatures.
“Even after the elections, the government and its members are involved in corruption, mismanagement and mis-governance. National interests, especially relating to the defence and security of Pakistan are being compromised and national security institutions like the armed forces are being maligned,” the party said.
It pointed out that public welfare issues such as price hikes, load shedding, unemployment and others were not being addressed which had compelled the people to come out on to the streets and launch a long march.
The PML-Q contended that the right to protest is conferred on every citizen as a fundamental right under Article 16 of the Constitution. Similarly, freedom of movement, freedom of association and freedom of speech have also been recognised as fundamental rights under Articles 15, 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution, it added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2014.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), an ally of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) which has been staging a sit-in in the federal capital since August 16, submitted a written reply to the Supreme Court on Monday, requesting a court direction to all political parties to resolve the prevailing political impasse within the parameters of the Constitution.
“It would be appropriate to leave the ongoing political impasse to the political leadership to resolve,” the PML-Q said, adding that the party leadership was also making efforts to work out a constitutional solution to the political imbroglio.
The reply, submitted by PML-Q’s attorney Advocate Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan, carries significant weight as it comes after the party’s president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, suggested a military takeover in a recent press statement.
Filed in reply to a Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bar Association petition, the PMLQ reply contended that in the name of democracy, the Sharif brothers have established a dictatorship in the country.
“The current political situation and protests have cropped up in the backdrop of certain political issues and massacre of innocent people in Model Town, Lahore,” it said referring to the killing of 14 PAT workers in the June 17 clashes with the police at the central secretariat of Minhajul Quran International.
“The 2013 general elections were the most disputed elections in the history of the country, wherein almost every political party and stockholder alleged massive institutional rigging in one way or the other,” the PML-Q claimed in its reply, questioning the validity of the national and provincial legislatures.
“Even after the elections, the government and its members are involved in corruption, mismanagement and mis-governance. National interests, especially relating to the defence and security of Pakistan are being compromised and national security institutions like the armed forces are being maligned,” the party said.
It pointed out that public welfare issues such as price hikes, load shedding, unemployment and others were not being addressed which had compelled the people to come out on to the streets and launch a long march.
The PML-Q contended that the right to protest is conferred on every citizen as a fundamental right under Article 16 of the Constitution. Similarly, freedom of movement, freedom of association and freedom of speech have also been recognised as fundamental rights under Articles 15, 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution, it added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2014.