PTI to be part of judicial commission

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary party Monday approved participation in the Judicial Commission. However, names of the participants will be finalised by the party founder chairman regarding the nominees.

Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub presided over the meeting, which was held here at the Parliament House. The participants welcomed the party secretary general Salman Akram Raja, who specially attended the proceedings.

The parliamentary party accorded approval to be part of Judicial Commission, supporting the decision of the political committee. The protest movement including the schedule of meetings across the country was also okayed.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting said that the members of the assembly are fully determined to participate in the protest meetings as per the schedule. The forum deliberated the recently passed 26th constitutional amendment, the latest political situation and the strategy regarding the National Assembly’s session.

The meeting also considered the legal strategy to follow the political cases against founder PTI and vowed that the vigorous and effective protest against the ‘unjust imprisonment’ of founder PTI will continue.

It was reiterated that the PTI founder has been kept in solitary confinement for political purposes, having committed no crime. The parliamentary party paid a huge tribute to the members of the assembly, especially the members of Punjab and noted that all the members have stood like a rock by the founding PTI ideology.

However, the meeting made it clear that strict action will be taken against the members who betrayed the party in relation to the recent constitutional amendment. It was emphasised that the disciplinary action against such members will be taken to its logical conclusion.

PTI Chief Whip Amir Dogar, later, shared some details of the meeting and said that the majority decided, “We should participate in the Judicial Commission, the final approval of the names will be given by the founder PTI.”

He said that the meeting spoke on a protest, which was to be held in Peshawar. MNAs, belonging to Punjab told the meeting about their situation, who were underground in those days on account of the passage of the constitutional amendment. A reporter asked him whether Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Mansoor Ali Shah should resign on being superseded, to which he said that these judges are part of the Supreme Court.

“I cannot say anything about them personally, these two judges have shown great wisdom and did not resign. Both judges have vast experience, and we should take advantage of that experience,” he remarked.

Separately, finally, the war of words between Salman Akram Raja and advocate Faisal Chaudhry has ended, after intervention from the founder of PTI, who reportedly asked both to exercise restraint and avoid going to public on internal party matters.

After the intervention, according to the sources privy to the matter, said Faisal Chaudhry was again included in the legal team of the founding PTI. Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, who is the party’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, was also present at the time of reconciliation.

Imran has called upon Faisal Chaudhry to follow the party policy and also spelt out a message for former Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry through Faisal Chaudhry, who is his younger brother, directing him to refrain from issuing rhetoric against the incumbent leadership and the party.

Three days ago, Faisal Chaudhry had filed an application regarding medical facilities to Imran Khan in the Islamabad High Court, while PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had declared his indifference to the application. He even said the PTI’s legal team will file a fresh application on Monday.

Gohar reportedly maintained that he (Faisal) had filed this application by himself using Imran Khan’s old power of attorney against the instructions of the PTI legal team. Whereas, contrary to it, Faisal Chaudhry claimed that the petition was filed with the consent of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar.

Faisal Chaudhry was removed from PTI’s legal team and Salman Akram Raja also removed him from all cases related to founder PTI as well as the related WhatsApp groups. After presiding over the meeting, Omar Ayub told the media that they will hold public meetings everywhere and play on the front foot.

To a question, he denied the news that Imran Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi was forcibly taken to Peshawar upon her release from the captivity, and said that it was her own decision. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja contended that the full court of the Supreme Court should look into the issue of the 26th constitutional amendment, explaining there are glaring mistakes in the 26th constitutional amendment, if the 27th constitutional amendment is being brought to remove them, then they will see.

He emphasised that the PTI founder has said that they will not back down even an inch; they will remain firm on their principled positions on issues. Last week, former Speaker National Assembly and senior leader of the party Asad Qaiser said that it has been basically decided about the members who voted in favour of the 26th constitutional amendment that these members will not be part of PTI anymore. PTI-backed independent members of the National Assembly Zahoor Qureshi, Aurangzeb, Usman Ali and Mubarak Zaib voted in favour of the 26th constitutional amendment.

He said that a decision has been taken for legal action against these members and accordingly, a reference will be sent to the Speaker and then the Election Commission and the Supreme Court will also be approached against them. Asad Qaiser said, “We are also considering appealing to the public to start a social boycott of these lawmakers.”