ISLAMABAD: Former speaker National Assembly and senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Qaiser Sunday apologised to the nation for the decision to extend the tenure of former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Speaking at a news conference here along with other leaders of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan, he conceded that the decision to extend the tenure of General Bajwa during the tenure of prime minister Imran Khan was a historic mistake.
He emphasized that no one should be given an extension, saying, “We apologise to the nation for extending the tenure of General Bajwa. We shall not support any extension in future.”
Asad Qaiser termed Pakistan’s governance illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic and charged that the country is practically being run under martial law and decisions are being made based on personal likes and dislikes. The country cannot be run under this current hybrid system, he said.
On speculations of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, he contended that a ‘new drama’ has begun regarding this legislation. “In this matter, we will contact the legal community and start this series by meeting the Islamabad Bar this month. This is a direct threat to democracy and provincial autonomy,” he made it clear.
He maintained that they had decided to use every forum, including parliament, courts and the public, to advance their struggle against injustice and oppression, while the PTI will hold meetings with foreign diplomats this month as well as organise a seminar.
Asad Qaiser claimed that the decisions of the courts are not based on merit but under institutional pressure, saying, “We believe that the cases of political prisoners should be decided on merit rather than under pressure from the authorities. If the cases are decided on merit and the media broadcasts them live, the nation will see what a big drama this is.”
He said that there is a spectacle going on in the assembly as well. “The way it is being controlled, the system is being run, and parliamentarians being humiliated in front of Adiala jail, this is worrying.”
“MPs across the world have the privilege to visit prisons; why is that right being denied here?” he questioned and called this move unlawful and undemocratic.
Veteran politician and head of TTAP Mahmood Khan Achakzai warned that any attempt to change the Constitution would destabilise the country. He cautioned that tampering with the Constitution would threaten the very foundation of Pakistan. “Constitution is a social contract, if it is violated, then the foundations of Pakistan will be shaken,” he emphasized.
He explained that the Tehreek will neither speak ill of anyone nor use language that is immoral and that the sole purpose of this movement is to protect the Constitution. Achakzai said that the current situation has become extremely bad, while even during the era of Ziaul Haq and Musharraf, there was some decency left, but now things have reached such a point that even Shehbaz Sharif has no idea of the power of people.
The TTAP leader warned when the people are angry, the end of the biggest rulers is revealed. He reiterated to organise the people to protect the Constitution.
He emphasized that an agreement be made with them under which the judiciary would be kept independent, restrictions on the media would be lifted and if that happens, then they would also sign the agreement, otherwise they would be forced to take to the streets.
Referring to alleged obstacles created in the way of those who want to meet PTI founder chairman Imran Khan in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, he said they (PMLN leaders and workers) used to go in processions to meet Nawaz Sharif and his daughter and when he had gone to meet Nawaz Sharif in jail, there was a rally.
He pointed out that the current NA Speaker was also a part of the procession to meet Nawaz Sharif in jail. He contended that the members of the assembly were arrested from parliament; at that time, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq did not remember his authority.
Former Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair Umar also shed light on the economic situation in detail and said that Pakistan has broken all previous records of economic destruction.
He said that 38 percent inflation has never been seen in the country before, and weekly inflation has reached 50 percent, whereas currently about 11.2 million people are living below the poverty line, while the unemployment rate has reached 22 percent. The unemployment rate among youth is 30 percent, which is the highest in the country’s history.
Zubair Umar said that during the PTI era, loans increased by 19 trillion, while in the recent three and a half years, this increase has reached 38 trillion and questioned where these loans were used. He alleged that, on the one hand, Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif call taking loans from the IMF shameful and, on the other hand, they congratulate each other on getting loans. He said that claims of investment of $100 billion were made through SIFC, but the reality is that foreign investment has now fallen to the lowest level in the last 50 years.
Zubair Umar continued that the current GDP growth rate is only 1.62 percent while the population is growing at the rate of 2.6 percent; the value of a salary of Rs50,000 in April 2022 has reduced to only Rs20,800 today, due to which the purchasing power of the people has decreased by 60 percent in three years, and there are currently about 27 million children out of school in the country, which is a shame.
He said that 40 percent of children’s development is being affected, and public sector institutions are suffering a loss of more than one trillion rupees.
The former governor said that at the time of the no-confidence motion, the country’s foreign exchange reserves were $17 billion, which fell to $4 billion in a short period of time, but why the risk of default was not felt then.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday said the opposition is perturbed by the economic progress achieved by the country under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The minister, in a news statement, rejected the press conference held by opposition leader Asad Qaiser as misleading and contrary to the facts.
“Misleading statements about the national economy are not in the public’s interest,” the minister stressed.
He asked the opposition leaders whether the substantial increase in remittances that reached $38 billion is not acceptable to them. Ironically, it is hard for them to acknowledge that the current account had recorded a surplus of $2.1 billion, inflation was declining, exports were increasing and the stock market was continuously gaining momentum, he added.
The minister asked the opposition why they are not okay with improvement in international ratings of the national economy. He recalled that the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf hatched a conspiracy against the country on May 9, resorting to vandalize the state institutions and memorials of martyrs. Those involved in the conspiracy have been dealt with in accordance with the law and punished after a transparent and fair trial.
The minister said the opposition is mainly perturbed by the action against those who were involved in the May 9 conspiracy and brought to justice for their crimes.
