Awami National Party (ANP) Senior Vice President Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour on Saturday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would be responsible if martial law was imposed in the country.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in the provincial capital, Bilour claimed some elements were striving towards martial law. He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and his allies would be responsible if such plans materialise.
“We do not support martial law and neither do we accept it. In fact, our struggle is for democracy in Pakistan.” Bilour said.
The former federal minister expressed his resentment over the increasing political polarisation of the country, alleging that certain circles were trying to disrupt the democratic process.
“We will not tolerate efforts aimed at derailing democracy,” he remarked, saying the party would not accept any constitution introduced under a military government.
Responding to a question, the seasoned politician said, “Political polarisation is being sponsored and dictated by those who have long been trying to derail the democratic process at the behest of others.” He made it clear that nobody apart from Pakistan Tehreek–e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and his aides would be responsible for derailing the democratic process.
The ANP leader reaffirmed his party’s faith in democracy, the supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament.
He recalled that military governments caused huge problems in the past and dictators almost never fulfilled their promises to the people.
Elaborating on his point of view, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour recalled military dictator Ziaul Haq introduced the heroin and Kalashnikov culture to the country, whereas militancy and terrorism were ‘gifts’ left behind by Musharraf.
“Only democratic governments are capable of running the affairs of the country according to the expectations of the people.”
The ANP leader suspected the involvement of a hidden power behind the ongoing protests and politics of confrontation. The ANP leader alleged Imran Khan staged his Islamabad sit-in when Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif refused to extend the tenures of two military generals, including the former chief of army staff (COAS).
Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said anti-democratic forces were not only trying to derail the democratic process, but were also making a bid to harm the Constitution. He added the 18th and 19th amendments were passed after a tremendous struggle and brought the Constitution back to its original shape.
He said the actions of Imran Khan and PTI were detrimental to the very interests of the federation as the imposition of martial law could put the future of the country at stake. He felt the PTI chief was clearly confused as he kept on changing his statements and actions.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2014.
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We do not support martial law and neither do we accept it. In fact, our struggle is for democracy in Pakistan.” Bilour said. But sir, you practicaly have a military rule in KPK, though the political responsibility remains in the care of the Provincial assembly. The military have occupied all the garrison tons and cantonments which were formaly occupied by the colonial army. They hve displaced more than a million people from their homes in the tribal area who are now crowded in camps on both sides of the border and the town administration is in the hands of civil servants and police who duly report to the military commanders. The official declaration of marshal law will simply mean that the provincial assembly will be dissolved and the politicians like you will come under restriction as well and not permitted to hold press conferences.
Rex Minor
Much of what Haji Bilour Sahib is saying is true. But, how we wish that the political leaders were corruption free, and not megalomaniacs to the extent that by the time the military overthrew them, people were overjoyed to see them go and celebrating by distributing sweets on the streets of Lahore. This time around the corruption and the dictatorial tendencies by civilian rulers are relatively in check because of the pressure of IK and TUQ. That is why the public is backing IK. It's not his good looks alone.