Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday warned against any attempts to amend the Contempt of Court Act, saying the rulers wanted to weaken the judiciary in order to protect their corruption.
In a statement, Imran said the ruling cabal had been trying everything to avoid accountability. “They took a number of steps in this regard: One, no law on accountability was allowed to be passed in the parliament; two, a sustained campaign was initiated to undermine the National Accountability Bureau; and three, the accountability watchdog was stuffed with handpicked individuals.” The PTI chief added that the only institution standing in the way of the corrupt regime was the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which had been constantly checking the corrupt practices of the ruling party over the last four years.
Imran said the most important decision taken by the Supreme Court was declaring the National Reconciliation Ordinance “illegal”. He said the previous prime minister did not implement the court’s verdict because he was mandated by his superiors in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to protect the theft of billions of rupees committed by Asif Ali Zardari. “This led to his conviction under the contempt of court law, and disqualification as a member of the parliament and prime minister,” Imran said, adding that the lesson learnt by the ruling cabal after this episode was to weaken the judiciary by amending the contempt of court law.
“The provisions being amended will clearly open the way for the national office holders and members of the legislatures to refuse to obey court decisions, as they would face no penalty for doing so,” Imran said, adding that the amendments would provide cover to the looting and plundering committed by the ruling elite.
NO ALLIANCE WITH PML-N: The PTI chief also ruled out any possibility of striking an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He said that the PPP and the PML-N were not different from each other, as both of them had been enjoying rule in the name of so-called democracy. “When general polls are a foot away, both of them have started playing their tactics in order to befool the nation for their vested interests,” Imran said, adding that the PML-N’s leadership escaped to London while the country was facing challenging problems.
NATO SUPPLIES: The PTI took out a massive public rally from Lahore to Gujranwala to demonstrate against the restoration of NATO supply routes amid continued drone strikes.
Addressing the rally at Gondlawala Chowk in Gujranwala, Imran said the unconditional opening of NATO supply lines by the government was an insult to the nation. He said that drone attacks were still going on but the corrupt politicians were busy in safeguarding their corruption instead of safeguarding the masses.
The PTI leader also denounced extensive load shedding, corruption, unemployment, and “futile policies” of the current government which included the restoration of NATO supply lines.
He said that instead of revisiting their relation with the US and taking strong stand against drone attacks, the rulers had sold the nation by opening the supply lines unconditionally. “Our children are being murdered but these corrupt politicians who have assets abroad have plans to leave the country in difficult times. But we will not let them escape,” Imran said, adding that both the ruling parties (the PPP and the PML-N) were in partnership to maintain status-quo and stop any positive change in the society. He said the PTI, with the support of the youth, would wash away the corrupt elements.
He warned of launching a “tsunami march” towards Islamabad if the government tried to insult and clash with the Supreme Court.
He said the plight of the common man was worsening with each passing day, as the country’s industry was closing due to extensive load shedding. He said that Rs 66,000 were being spent every minute to maintain the luxurious life styles of the corrupt rulers. He said the PTI was a sword hanging over the heads of the corrupt politicians, and it would not let them flee with the hard earned money of the masses. He pledged to eradicate load shedding and unemployment from the society after coming into power. He said that the Pakistanis living abroad were willing to insure the influx of capital in Pakistan to free their motherland from foreign clutches.
He said the PTI was the party of the youth, and a truly democratic one in which anyone could become Chairman through elections within the party. PTI’s central leadership, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javaid Hashmi, SA Hameed, was also present at the occasion.
Hands off judiciary: Imran
