PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, on Tuesday said that all institutions were respectable and they were in favour of a strong and independent judiciary, Parliament and a strong military institution.
Talking to reporters outside the Peshawar High Court, he urged the National Assembly Speaker to immediately issue the notification for appointment of the opposition leader.
He said that the failure to appoint the opposition leader was an unconstitutional and illegal act. According to the constitution, the House cannot function without an opposition leader, and all current legislation was being passed illegally.
The PTI leader challenged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) head Mian Nawaz Sharif’s assertion, who called himself a champion of democracy.
He said that if a neutral umpire was brought in and free and fair elections were held, and they managed to win even 10 seats across Pakistan, they would accept they were the champion of democracy.
Asad Qaiser maintained that they were peaceful people and were advancing their struggle within constitutional limits. “We expect justice from the courts. If the public or anyone is to get justice, it will come from the court. However, it is regrettable that new amendments have paralysed the courts,” he opined.
He claimed that executive interference had increased and even the head of the new constitutional court was appointed by the prime minister, which did not happen in any other country in the world.
He questioned, “When the government appoints the judges of the judiciary or when the influence of the executive increases, where will justice come from?” He noted that if the public had a complaint against the government or any institution, they would approach the court as it was their only path. “But after the courts have been paralysed, justice is no longer available.”
He added that they still expected the judiciary to fulfil its duty, deliver justice to the people, and stand by their oath rather than obeying the executive’s orders.
He appealed to the bar associations to strengthen the judiciary for the sake of justice and stand with the courts. He alleged that “some people have become instruments of opponents to destroy the courts.”
He claimed that everyone knew the current government lacked a public mandate, saying they were vote thieves, who came to power by stealing votes.
He said that the PTI founder could still be released if he compromised on his principles, saying his release was not difficult, but he was standing firm on his principles. “We want justice for the founder on merit. If justice is done on merit, he will be released in two days.” He emphasized that the right to meet prisoners is a fundamental right.
He stated that the government had imposed restrictions on meetings with him, and there was an attempt to dismantle PTI. He warned that if they formed a government, they would strike down the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments.
He announced that they were holding a meeting today and planning to call a National Conference, inviting all opposition parties, their allies, bar associations, and civil society to present a national agenda.
He appealed to the KP chief minister to resolve the issues being confronted by traders whose businesses had halted due to the closure of the Pak-Afghan border. “Today, the whole world runs on trade and business, but here, business with our brother country has been stopped, which is affecting common people.”
He criticised the foreign policy for destroying the market and pushing the country towards another conflict. He pleaded, “For God’s sake, give a chance to trade and peace, and consider our people as human beings.”
He accused the federal government of withholding their rightful funds, engaging in political revenge, and spreading propaganda against them.
