Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders on Monday expressed the resolve to uphold supremacy of Constitution and Parliament.
Addressing the protest sit-in of the PDM and the coalition parties’ outside the Supreme Court (SC), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief and president of PDM Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the coalition government believed in upholding the Constitution and law, and no one would be allowed to disrespect the Parliament and the people.
“All institutions should work within their constitutional domains, while politics is the exclusive domain of politicians and if anyone wants to do politics he must have to contest the election,” he said while addressing a protest rally at the Constitutional Avenue.
Maulana Fazl said the coalition government partners respected the national institutions. “We have pledged to protect the judiciary, the law and the Constitution.”
He said it was being speculated that the PDM would abandon its movement after the today’s sit-in, but it should be clear that they would never budge from their stance, continue their such protest to safeguard the national interests, and if needed against resort to staging sit-ins.
He said none of the protestors had even thought of “disrespecting the apex court” as the PDM leadership wholeheartedly respected the judiciary.
The PDM chief said there were rumors about the disqualification of the prime minster. “I want to clarify that we will protect our prime minster and the Parliament at all costs.”
Maulana Fazl accused Imran Khan of dividing the Pakistan Army, but the PDM would foil his all nefarious attempts in that regard. The coalition government had always stood by the armed forces and would continue doing so, he added.
Referring to the attacks on public buildings, he said India, the arch enemy of Pakistan, was jubilant today as Imran Khan was targeting the defence installations and also mocking the Pakistan Army.
“We will protect the Islamic status of Pakistan at any cost and not allow to succeed the Jewish lobby,” he added.
He said strict action should be taken against the miscreants who had attacked the GHQ, Fort Balahisar, Mianwali Air Base, Corp Commander House and other public buildings.
Addressing the sit-in, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President and chief organiser criticised the judges and accused them of playing significant role in the destruction of the country.
"We respect the law and the judiciary, but the Supreme Court should have strengthened democracy instead of weakening it by hampering the due process of law," the PML-N leader said.
Maryam said that the courts should uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament instead of belittling it.
The PML-N vice president paid tribute to the leaders and workers of PDM for attending the demonstration peacefully in scorching heat.
She said these are the true Pakistanis, who are staging a peaceful protest in front of this citadel of justice, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, without any violence.
"It was Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) who launched the first ever attack on GHQ, while the second one was carried out by Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Maryam Nawaz said the PTI armed gangs looted and plundered the public and private buildings and burnt and disgraced monuments of Shuhada and Ghazis.
Addressing the demonstration, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said today we are here for upholding rule of law and this is a peaceful protest not violent like PTI.
Senator Sabir Baloch of the PPP said leaders of Pakistan People's Party were murdered, jailed and faced every kind of victimization, but the party never resorted to violence and not took law into their hands
JUI-F leader and former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akram Khan Durrani said people gathered here today to struggle for supremacy of law.
He said there is representation of all political parties and all provinces in today's protest.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain of Awami National Party (ANP) said that the Supreme Court can only interpret the Constitution and not re-write it to favor any individual.
He said we respect the courts, but the courts should also uphold the supremacy of parliament.
Aftab Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) said that supremacy of law is the sole purpose of our gathering here today.
"No one will be allowed to violate the law and the Constitution," Sherpao said and vowed to continue struggle for rule of law.
Balochistan National Party-Meangal (BNP-M) chief and former Chief Minister Balochistan, Akhtar Mengal said everyone should be equal in the eyes of law.
He lamented that there is targeted justice as courts never showed exigency when the matter was of hundreds of missing Baloch persons.
Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan (JUP) leader Owais Noorani strongly criticized the conduct of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and his role as a facilitator of Imran Khan.
"The only available option for country's progress is the rule of law," he said.
Noorani urged the PTI followers to not waste time with the so-called narrative of Imran Khan as he has been struggling to waste the time of the nation. He said our army is our pride and he we should respect them.
Earlier on Monday morning, supporters of ruling alliance PDM reached outside the SC to protest against the judiciary allegedly favouring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.
On May 12, PDM announced holding the sit-in after the apex court came to the rescue of Imran Khan who was arrested from inside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9 on the order of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Addressing a press conference on Friday, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said a protest will be held "against the behaviour of the Supreme Court".
"A big sit-in will be staged to express that the Supreme Court is the mother of law, not the mother-in-law," the PDM chief said, as he called upon the supporters to reach Islamabad for the sit-in.