Ijaz Kakakhel
Federal Health Minister Qadir Patel criticized judges and generals for standing against democracy, saying that they made the road toward democracy difficult.
Speaking at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Patel said that every two years, judges or generals try to derail democracy in Pakistan. He stated that elected individuals get hundreds of thousands of votes, but then “Babu” (judges and generals) try to end their supremacy.
The Health Minister questioned the right of judges to decide the future of Pakistan and criticized the system they were trying to set up. Mr Patel also lashed out at the Supreme Court, claiming that the court was trying to make Sindh and Balochistan another East Pakistan, as they decided for elections in Punjab.
He referred to the judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and criticized judges claiming to be enforcing the writ of constitution, saying, “your judge confessed of judicial murder, Bhutto is still alive”.
Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor expressed his disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision in the election related case. He said the honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan should also respect other institutions.
Minister for Information Technology Aminul Haque said justice has not been delivered in the Supreme Court’s decision in the election case. He said the next elections should be held after the digital census and delimitations of constituencies.
Taking the floor, Minister for Power Khurram Dastagir said the Supreme Court of Pakistan should serve the interests of the people and preserve and defend the constitution of Pakistan. He said the situation warrants that the apex court brings transparency in its matters and structure its exercise of authority which he said is nowhere to be seen in the recent judgments.
The Minister expressed satisfaction that there was consensus within the parliament for the protection of the constitution. He said we do not want confrontation but will have to preserve our rights. He said it is also written in the constitution that the next elections should be held after the census.
Khurram Dastagir said the 2023 elections should be held simultaneously in a free, fair and transparent manner without any interference.
Hashim Notezi of BNP said, in his remarks, elections of the National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies should be held simultaneously saying this is important for stability in the country. Aslam Bhootani said other institutions should also respect the parliament. Abdul Akbar Chitrali said the Chief Justice of Pakistan should take suo motu notice after consultation with the full bench.
Naz Baloch said being workers of the PPP, we respect the judiciary.
