The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on Tuesday that it has nothing personal against Asma Jehangir, but the former chairperson of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) just does not fit the criteria for caretaker prime minister.
The PTI has taken note of a statement by Asma Jehangir in which she attacked PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the party for raising objections on her nomination by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for caretaker prime minister.
A PTI spokesman said the problem with Asma’s nomination was not her personality, but “she does not fit the qualifications that the party thinks are necessary for a caretaker prime minister.”
It may be recalled, the spokesman said, that the PTI had laid down three necessary preconditions before anyone could be considered for the most important post of caretaker prime minister. The conditions are: the person nominated should be completely neutral; the person nominated should respect national institutions, particularly the judiciary; the person nominated should have the necessary administrative experience to run the machinery of the state for the caretaker period and particularly able to ensure a free and fair election. The PTI spokesman said that Asma Jehangir “does not fit any of the above three criteria.”
“She has frequently attacked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the past and continues to do so. According to her published statements, Ms Jehangir has termed PTI a ‘progeny of the establishment’ and handmaiden of those wanting to derail democracy. These statements of hers have been spread over the last three years and show a consistent pattern of anti-PTI behaviour,” the spokesman said. “As a citizen in a democracy she is free to hold any views, but for someone required to conduct a free and fair election, Ms Jehangir is clearly biased and does not fit the bill,” the spokesman added.
“The same is true regarding her attitude towards the Supreme Court. The person becoming caretaker prime minister must have an innate respect for the SC because during the election phase many contentious issues may be decided by the superior courts. If the caretaker PM does not respect the courts, there would be chaos during the sensitive election period. Ms Asma Jehangir clearly has little respect for the superior judiciary as a number of her statements attacking the courts testify. On this criterion too, she does not fit the bill to be caretaker PM,” the spokesman said.
“Thirdly, it goes without saying that anyone becoming the caretaker PM must have at least some administrative experience. Ms Jehangir has none. She would thus find it impossible to conduct the affairs of the government,” the spokesman added.
Nothing personal against Asma Jehangir, but she simply doesn’t qualify for caretaker PM: PTI
