- PTI expects no concessions after postponing Islamabad rally: Swati
- He says they only wanted the implementation of the law and the Constitution in the country.
- Lawyer Gohar Ali Khan says the government is “working on the legislation in secret”.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader Azam Swati on Monday said whoever facilitated his meeting with the party's jailed founder Imran Khan had done a “positive act” for the country.
“It was a positive decision to protect Pakistan's system,” Swati said outside the Supreme Court as she pointed towards her meeting with the former prime minister at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi earlier this week before the former ruling party rescheduled its power show in Islamabad from August 22 to September 8.
He went on to say that his party did not expect any kind of concession. [from the government] After postponing her rally in Islamabad, Swati added that the PTI only wanted the law and the Constitution to be enforced in the country.
The party founded by Imran made all-out efforts to stage a grand power show in the federal capital, ostensibly to revive its dwindling political strength, however, it went in vain after the city administration denied permission citing security reasons.
The decision to postpone was taken after Swati held a meeting with the PTI founder at Rawalpindi Central Jail on the day of the Islamabad rally in which the latter gave permission to the party leaders to postpone the rally. jalsa.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also confirmed the development on Thursday.
However, in a recent audio statement, Aleema Khan, sister of the ousted prime minister who was removed from office in April 2022, expressed anger over the move and criticised the PTI leaders for not having any “real intention” to get the party founder out of jail.
In a short audio clip, purportedly featuring Aleema's voice, questions were raised as to why Swati visited Imran early in the morning and at whose behest. “Who ordered her to [Swati] Meet Imran at 7am and deliver a message to him about the postponement of the rally?
Welcoming the PTI decision, federal government spokesperson on legal affairs, Barrister Aqeel Malik, said the Centre had approached Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with a request to cancel the public meeting.
He also confirmed that the party had been given conditional permission to hold a demonstration on September 8.
In another blow, the party also cancelled its power rally in Lahore scheduled for August 27 “to focus on the upcoming Islamabad rally” without giving a new date, according to the ruling party's former Information Secretary for Punjab, Shaukat Mahmood Basra.
The move has been described as another blow to the political reputation of the troubled party, which has suffered consecutive setbacks in the staging of its political events.
Gohar criticises 'secret legislation'
Lawyer Gohar criticised the PML-N-led coalition government for “working secretly on legislation” instead of holding parliamentary party meetings before each session of parliament.
“This is not the way to make laws secretly all over the world,” the PTI chairman said while talking to reporters in Islamabad today, adding that lawmakers from his party would review all aspects of the government's legislation at the party's parliamentary meeting.
Gohar also said that his party would “oppose any kind of extension.” His statement was in reference to rumours about the current government's legislation to grant an extension to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, despite denials from some ministers.
Speculation gained traction after it emerged that the federal government is reportedly planning to convene a joint session on August 28 to table key legislation, including changes to laws relating to appointments of top jurists based on the principle of seniority.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar clarified two days ago that the federal government was not considering any option to extend the tenure of judges “for now”, refuting speculations that the federal government was planning to introduce a judiciary-focused legislation in parliament.
When asked about the constitutional amendments that are being processed, Geo news Speaking on the programme 'Naya Pakistan', Tarar categorically rejected rumours regarding the federal government's plans to extend the tenure of the Chief Justice.
He also clarified that no constitutional amendment could be introduced during a joint session of Parliament.
The federal minister had said the speculations were fictitious as President Asif Ali Zardari had called for a regular session of parliament. However, he had confirmed that there was a possibility of a joint session next week where lawmakers would take up some pending bills.
Tarar, the leader of the ruling PML-N, had also said that a debate on the extension of judges was held a few months ago but it was not on the government's agenda at the moment.
It is worth mentioning that before the expected joint parliamentary session, President Zardari also convened the session of the National Assembly on August 26 (today) and the Senate on August 27 (tomorrow) in accordance with Article 54(1) of the Constitution.
