PM’s appearance in SC proves PTI believes in rule of law: Fawad | The Express Tribune

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan, by appearing in the Supreme Court on short notice, once again proved that he believed in the rule of law and the Constitution and respected the judiciary.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, after accompanying Prime Minister Imran Khan to the APS suo motu hearing, the information minister said the premier complied with the court order as enforcement of the rule of law and Constitution was an important part of PTI’s manifesto.

Referring to the APS tragedy, the minister said that the incumbent government could “have very easily blamed our rival, PML-N, as they were in power at that time”, but some matters “require national unity”.

“Today, the SC has given four weeks to submit a report,” he said. “The main handlers have already been eliminated. The Supreme Court has ordered to determine the individuals who bear the moral responsibility.”

Read More: SC adjourns hearing of APS case after PM Imran briefs bench

He added that all the political parties had put their differences aside on the matter and constituted the National Action Plan (NAP) after a prolonged discussion.

“This was the time when the judges were not taking any decision and military courts had to be formed. Such was the nature of the situation,” the minister said further.

“Intelligence failures do occur. We have almost eliminated terrorism from Pakistan,” the minister stated and added that the ratio of terror incidents was very low during PTI’s three years in power.

He added that even today, the same National Action Plan was being carried forward by the government.

“After the National Action Plan, our lives have returned to normalcy today. The credit goes to the armed forces, the security agencies and the Parliament for the role it played unanimously.” said the minister.

Fawad further said that Pakistan went through a very difficult time during the fall of Kabul and any other country would have been destabilised and added that all national institutions including administration, judiciary and other institutions have to fulfil their responsibilities.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, flanking the information minister, said the decision of the Supreme Court applies to everyone.

“Its decisions also apply to the government and the prime minister, so whatever the Supreme Court says, the PM will adhere to it as the Supreme Court is also a part of democracy,” he said. “There is no danger. PM Imran would complete his term.”

 

Additional input by APP