ISLAMABAD: Institutions should stay in their limits as collision is in no one’s interest, Prime Minister Imran Khan told the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s core committee Wednesday.The committee reiterated commitment to keeping national interest supreme and strengthening the State institutions.Prime Minister Khan made it clear that the government wanted the State institutions to fulfill their responsibilities within the ambit of the Constitution and the law.He said, "We want harmony among institutions and no confrontation at all. We just can't forget the supreme sacrifices rendered by our valiant armed forces in the establishment of peace and tranquility in the country."Khan chaired the committee meeting here, which was participate by cabinet members and senior party leadership besides Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, and Governors of Punjab and Sindh Muhammad Sarwar and Imran Ismail respectively.The forum had threadbare deliberations on the special court’s judgement to award death sentence to former President Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf. The committee was told that parliamentary committee and the legal team had not taken final decision on the issue of chief of army staff, as the opposition had also to be taken along for evolving consensus on the act of parliament. Division on this matter was in no way in the national interest and the committee was firm in saying that the institutions, linked to the country’s defence and national security could not be left for playing politics.The legal team will further assess the matter and review it and then final recommendations would be readied. Therefore, yet no final decision had been made on this count. The Prime Minister has reportedly stopped party leaders from giving statements on court verdicts. Giving briefing to media persons about the meeting details, Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Prime Minister told the committee that the institutions were the pillars of the State and the state’s interests were above all other considerations. He also talked about standing with the rule of law and the Constitution.He expressed his government resolve to strengthening further the State institutions and empowering them, as the forum was given briefing by senior legal experts Ali Zafar and Dr Babar Awan on legal and constitutional aspects of the high treason case judgement, announced by the special court a day earlier.The legal team apprised the committee of gapes in the judgement, weaknesses regarding prosecution and the accused.It was decided to give more time to the legal team to thrash out its recommendations and line of action in the backdrop of the judgement and in the light of the same, the cabinet would take related decisions and the government viewpoint on the matter would be shared.The Prime Minister made it clear that provision of justice was the key component of the party’s manifesto and the government top priority and ensuring of justice to all without any discrimination whatsoever and removing all hurdles in the way of justice through reforms.She said Prime Minister Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi shared details of the factors, linked with the decision of Prime Minister not going to Malaysia for the summit. They said that OIC was a platform with some 57 Muslim countries while Pakistan too had its strategic interests in the region. Dr Awan said that there were speculations and discussions in the media regarding the postponement of the Prime Minister’s visit to Malaysia for the summit.“Unity and solidarity in the ranks of Ummah is the need of the hour and Pakistan wants to play the role of uniting all the OIC member countries, being the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” she explained.The committee was informed that Pakistan was not inclined to siding with a country for its individual interests, as it wanted to work for a common cause of the ummah’s unity and solidarity and betterment and play its key role on this count. “Pakistan is for becoming part of the solution and not of problem,” she said referring to the core committee meeting.The forum, she noted, was told that Mahathir Mohamad had held such conferences earlier and did not invite Pakistan and now when he had formed government, he had invited Pakistan to be part of it while the conference was in continuation of previous such events.“Pakistan will God willing play the key role of uniting and strengthening the ummah,” she said. Replying to questions, she believed that Pakistan’s interests were above everything and the decision on Malaysian summit would unfold positive impact and Mahathir Mohamad had also agreed to Pakistan’s narrative, as he understood that Pakistan’s role was side with the Ummah, coming out of the tags of Arab and non-Arab.She noted Prime Minister asked the PTI and its allied parties parliamentary committee to work out formula for the appointment of the chief election commissioner and insisted that the appointment of a regular could not be made on the wishes of someone. He said that the mechanism of two parties deciding about the appointment of election commissioner was not judicious one and in negation of democratic concept and emphasized that institutions should be more important than individuals.The Prime Minister tasked the committee to come up with a proposal to settling the issue in consultations with the NA speaker and evolve consensus thereon. He called for reviewing the law and insisted on upholding merit, capability and fairness in the process.The committee decided to activate the Insaf Lawyers Forum, being so important as a bridge between the government and the judiciary, which had made massive contribution in the party’s struggle for rule of law. The committee called for a framework to fill the vacant posts of law officers.The forum also held discussion on the application filed by Maryam Nawaz to go abroad and Prime Minister and the committee emphasised that none was above and law and there was no sacred cow and that her desire to go abroad would be looked into as per the law.Dr Awan said the committee noted that the sub-committee would share its recommendations with the government on this matter and the law would be made free of wishes and desires, and be strengthened further.The forum condemned in the strongest possible words the amendment in the Indian Citizenship Act under which now the Muslims were being targeted and their ethnic cleansing was under way. The committee paid tributes to Prime Minister for his efforts of unmasking the ugly face of Indian State and how he articulated before the recent conference on refugees in Switzerland the Indian extremist mindset to go after the minorities.The Prime Minister, the committee appreciated, again reminded the world community about the seething humanitarian crisis in Indian Occupied Kashmir.To another question, she said the committee noted with appreciation, how Saudi Arabia had always stood by Pakistan and recently again, extended crucial help to Pakistan when it was facing risks of bankruptcy on payments and its foreign exchange reserves depleting fast.Chief Minister Punjab updated the committee on the legal aspect of the Lahore heart hospital incident.PTI Chief organizer apprised the forum of headway made on appointments with regards to panchayat and village councils prior to the local government elections.
12-19-2019, 10:52 AM
State organs must work within limits: PM
العرض الشجري