Top Pakistan People’s Party leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Wednesday said that the issue of policing powers for the paramilitary Rangers is purely a constitutional matter, but Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has made it a matter of ego.
In an interview with Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on his talkshow DNA on Channel 24, Aitzaz averred that the federal officers and officials could take part in the administrative affairs of a province only with its consent and the conditions set by it under Article 147 of the constitution.
He also rejected the mindset of Chaudhry Nisar that he could dictate Sindh province while sitting in the Centre, saying the extension for the Rangers could only be determined and decided by the provincial government and assembly alone.
About the possibility of deployment of armed forces in Sindh, Aitzaz said the Article 245 of the constitution had to be approved by a joint session in that case. He however held the view that whatever decision was taken, it should be in accordance with the Constitution.
About former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, the PPP leader said that from day one, he had said that Dr Asim Hussain could only be investigated on charges of corruption, adding that the sections of Protection of Pakistan Act and Anti-Terrorist Act were not applicable against him. He also opined that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should not act only on the evidence elicited by the Rangers. “The Bureau should also look into the assets and income tax returns of Nawaz Sharif,” he went on to say.
To a question about Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz, the PPP leader said ironically that “he was innocent”.
About the launch of a political party by former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Aitzaz said he could only pray for the success of his political group. He added that Chaudhry happened to be the most powerful chief justice of Pakistan but he desperately failed to reform the lower judiciary even though he remained in the office for five years.
He also recalled that Justice Chaudhry had himself conducted the hearing of the corruption charges and kickbacks brought against his son Arsalan Iftikhar Chaudhry, and had later on constituted a bench of his liking to influence the verdict.
The Chaudhries – Nisar and Aitezaz are old friends. They also had exchanged harsh – very harsh, words on the floor of the Assembly. Ch Aitezaz is not supporting Sind Assembly actions but PPP. It is well known that the Assembly is being controlled from across the Arabian sea and headed by an ex-body-guard of Mr 10%. They are ALL talking politics – not the L&O situation of Karachi which is stake.
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