Says Pakistan’s history is full of constitutional violations
ISLAMABAD
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that we are disappointed with Supreme Court’s judgment we still abide by it. Foreign Minister, in his address to crucial NA session, said that the opposition had the right to table a no-trust motion against the prime minister, but said that defending it was his obligation. “We intend to fight it in constitutional, political and democratic manner,” he asserted. He said that it was obligatory on us to respect the Constitution.
“Pakistan’s history is full of constitutional violations,” he said, adding that the doctrine of necessity should have been buried. “I am happy that Pakistan’s democracy has evolved and that we all are not ready to take its support,” he added. “Today is Saturday and the session has started at 10:30am. The court said the session will not be prorogued unless the process of Article 95 and rule 37 is concluded,” he said. However, it is important to present the context under which the court directed to summon the session again. He said that the clock was turned back and the apex court unanimously dismissed the April 3 ruling.
Foreign Minister Qureshi y said that the PTI government intended to tackle the resolution of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan, jointly moved by the Opposition parties, in a constitutional, political and democratic way. The minister said that the government admitted that the motion against the Prime Minister was in line with the Constitution of Pakistan, which the Opposition had the right to move and the government had the duty to defend it. He put on the record that the PTI government never intended to violate the constitution. “Respecting the Constitution is binding on all of us.”
The minister said the government had accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court in a Suo Moto case on the April 3 ruling of Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri. Qureshi also informed the House about an international conspiracy to change the democratically elected government and a ‘threat letter’ discussed in the National Security Committee meeting. He said the government also wanted to hold an in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security for briefing on the letter. The minister said that it was unfortunate that with the support of the foreign powers, the majority of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Lower House of the Parliament was being converted into a minority.
Qureshi expressed the confidence that history would expose the elements that hatched the conspiracy against the democratically elected government. He said that it was the right time for the nation to decide whether they wanted to live with dignity and pride or otherwise. The minister also informed the parliamentarians that the Prime Minister had undertaken the bilateral visit to Russia in consultation with all stakeholders. Pakistan always believed in true implementation of international laws and United Nations charter, he added.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan time and again said that Pakistan would be partner in the peace not in the conflict. The minister said all Pakistani nationals and students stranded in Ukraine had been brought back under a safe and successful evacuation operation.
He also informed the House about the efforts being made by Pakistan on the diplomatic front to solve the Russia-Ukraine crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.
Qureshi also dispelled the impression created by the Opposition parties that the ‘threatening letter’ had been prepared in the Foreign Office and said, “This is an authentic letter, written by a Grade-22 senior and seasoned diplomat posted there.” Qureshi also shared some contents of the letter with the parliamentarians that contained clear threat that if the no-confidence motion failed, Pakistan would have to face the consequences, and if succeeded “We will pardon Pakistan.”
He said it was the fundamental principle of the PTI government’s foreign policy to had cordial ties with all the countries. He said that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was constitutionally bound to conduct free, fair and transparent election within 90 days after the task is given to it. He said fresh elections and mandate would protect the country from any constitutional crisis. The Foreign Minister said that joint Opposition parties had nothing common in their agenda, but to avoid corruption cases.
