PPP leader advises PTI to talk to political forces

PESHAWAR: Parliamentary party leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Ahmad Karim Kundi, on Tuesday, advised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold talks with political forces if the party wanted an end to Establishment’s interference in political affairs and supremacy of parliament.

The majority of the treasury benches members including cabinet members had been criticizing the federal government, military establishment and their political opponents during the current session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for the last two weeks when the house was called to meet on September 10.

The routine agenda of the provincial assembly was postponed at the request of Higher Education Minister Meena Khan and general debates were allowed on the current political situation which continued on Tuesday.

The treasury benches had also passed a resolution by a majority, seeking an end to the establishment’s role in the country’s politics and punishment (court-martial) to those army officers who had breached oath and interfered in the political affairs.

The PPP MPA Ahmad Karim Kundi, the younger brother of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, while speaking on the Assembly floor on Tuesday, said that the ruling party lawmakers had been speaking against the state institutions, particularly against the Pakistan Army under a preplanned agenda that could be an open violation of their oath as member of the provincial assembly and allegiance to the state and its institutions.

“If you (PTI) are interested in the supremacy of the parliament and Constitution, you must talk to the political forces instead of seeking favour with the military establishment,” the PPP MPA said and added holding talks with political forces, making compromises and recognizing other existence was the true spirit of democracy.

He appreciated the political compromise and dialogues between the erstwhile rivals PTI and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and termed it a step towards political maturity.“But the PTI was the brainchild of Lt-General Ahmad Shujja Pasha and Lt-General Faiz Hameed. How will they [PTI leaders] accept the existence of political parties and forces,” he questioned.

Kundi said that the PPP had gifted the nation with the 1973 Constitution and later 18th Amendment where the state institutions had their constitutional role while the Parliament is the supreme body of the country.

“Our leadership was jailed, tortured and even killed but we had not attacked the military installations or showed disrespect to the state institutions,” he said and added that PTI had spread hatred and violence when their leader was arrested a year ago.

The PPP MPA asked the provincial government to focus on the deteriorating law and order, worsening economic situation and developmental works in the province instead of deceiving the people and issuing emotional statements.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government must demand the province’s shares in the national resources from the federal government for which CCI (Council of Common Interests) was the proper forum,” he said and added that under the Constitution, the CCI meeting could also be convened on the request of a province.

The assembly session was adjourned soon after the PPP MPA concluded his speech when the lack of quorum was pointed out by an opposition MPA.The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi, was adjourned till September 30.