ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Sunday it was wrong to hold Law Minister Zahid Hamid responsible for a bill which had been drafted by the entire parliamentary committee.
Speaking on Geo News programme Jirga, the interior minister said, “We don’t want to hold anyone accountable as yet since the report (being prepared by Raja Zafarul Haq) is currently under review.”
“If this was government’s legislation then it would be right to hold the government responsible. But, members of all parties were present when the bill was being discussed,” the minister said reiterating his earlier claims.
He said if Zahid Hamid resigned over the issue then it would give way for the rivals of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to fulfil their agenda, adding, “Today, these people have staged a protest, tomorrow someone else will with another agenda. If you want to start this tradition, then people will demand resignations daily.”
The interior minister also claimed that the Islamabad administration had taken the decision to conduct the Faizabad operation on the orders of the high court. He said the operation was headed by the Islamabad administration and the inspector general of Islamabad police. “I was not instructed to conduct the operation rather issued a show-cause notice over being a hurdle in the matter.” He also remarked that he was in favour of resolving the issue peacefully.
Asked if the administration can bypass the authority of the interior ministry, he reasoned that the administration acted as per Article 190 of the Constitution, which states that “all executive and judicial authorities throughout Pakistan shall act in aid of the Supreme Court.”
Explaining why the operation was stopped, he said the administration decided to lessen the intensity of the operation when loss of lives was reported, adding that law enforcing agencies were ordered to conduct operations during daylight.
Moreover, the media coverage of the event led to supporters of the protesters coming from Rawalpindi and the police could’ve been “sandwiched” between the two groups, he claimed.
Asked about the resignations of Pervaiz Rasheed and Mushahid Ullah Khan, Iqbal said that their issue was not about their faith or religious beliefs but that they resigned due to a security-related issue. “However, this matter is different and must be dealt with sensitivity,” he added.
For once I agree with Aqama holder. Ahsan Iqbal is the man who on the advice of Nawaz conspired against our Faith.So he is the accomplice.
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