Not supporting any extra-constitutional steps, PTI tells SC

Rabbani had raised 3 questions over the protesting parties’ 'misrepresentation' of army’s support for sit-ins


Hasnaat Malik September 15, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has refused to respond to Parliament’s apprehension regarding the party's 'misrepresentation' of the army’s support for their sit-in in Islamabad.

PTI’s counsel Yousaf Khosa, while submitting a reply before a  in the Supreme Court, stated that the party did not have the "benefit of knowledge" of the concerns raised by parliamentarians and was, therefore, unable to respond specifically to their apprehension.

Senior parliamentarian Raza Rabbani, while representing the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Balochistan National Party (BNP) on September 10, had expressed his apprehensions before the apex court, raising three questions.

The first question filed in the apex court by Rabbani was: “Whether any political party or any other group could ask constitutional office-bearers to disengage from office under threat of violence or use of force in violation of the Constitution?”

The second question raised was: “Whether any political leader can legitimately involve the Pakistan Army in his design to achieve his unconstitutional objectives by attempting to reassure his followers that the army, by a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, will determine the future course of his action?”

The third question was: “Whether a political leader can misrepresent the support of the Pakistan Army to their cause in public or private communications, thereby compromising the image of a national institution?"

The same day -- September 10, the court had directed the protesting parties to submit a reply to these questions within three days.

Meanwhile, PTI’s reply stated that the party would not support any extra-constitutional step in the prevailing political situation and will also oppose any such moves.

The reply further states that the guiding principles of the Constitution, democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice are part of the party’s manifesto.

“The answering respondent (the PTI) is not only exercising its rights of existence by awakening the people to their rights and obligations of the present government in a democratic society within the framework of the Constitution and propagating, it is submitted, the true supremacy of the Constitution, which includes Article 218 of the same,” the PTI contended.

Referring to Article 4 of the Constitution, the reply stated that no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person can be taken except in accordance with law. Further, referring to Article 5 of the Constitution, the PTI said loyalty to the state and obedience to the Constitution is the obligation of every citizen of Pakistan.

The reply further stated that the fundamental rights provided in part II of the Constitution, including Articles 19, 10, 10-A, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 , 18 and 19, must be upheld by the apex court with a holistic approach while enforcing each one individually.

COMMENTS (6)

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply

What is the court doing? Running after the mirage? My question: has any crime been committed? If so, follow the FIR from the lower courts. If not, then stop wasting time.

Burjor Rustomji | 9 years ago | Reply

Who exactly is following the Constitution in Pakistan. Like religion the Constitution is open to millions of interpretations. We Pakistani's have no intention of following any law, we do not even stop our cars on red signal lights, This country is based on the law of the jungle, that is our Constitution. But we like to pretend otherwise. To live in this country one must develop a good sense of humor, because the topics are so serious and players are clowns, they make up for all faults.

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