KARACHI: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s remarks about the election of the new chairman of the Senate have started a debate about whether it is appropriate for a prime minister to issue such statements.
The prime minister's comments have particularly angered Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and his Balochistan Awami Party.
Abbasi, while addressing different gatherings in Nankana Sahib and Lahore this week, had criticized the election of the Senate chairman, saying there was a need for a “consensus chairman of the upper house of Parliament.” Abbasi further said that votes were purchased.
“Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (the party of PM Abbasi) — is a pioneer and a great proponent of purchasing and selling votes, so it now sees others with the same eyes,” Sen. Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, spokesman of the newly formed ruling Balochistan Awami Party, told Arab News.
“We will go for all forms of agitation to register our protest against the uncalled-for remarks. However, the announcement of March toward Islamabad by the chief minister of Balochistan was symbolic,” Kakar clarified, adding the remarks don’t suit a person of the stature of the prime minister of Pakistan.
Kakar added if Abbasi and his party had an objection they should have moved to the Election Commission and Supreme Court of Pakistan. “But they don’t respect and believe in institutions. If they had (respect), they would have accepted the verdict regarding Nawaz Sharif and being done shame legislation to undo the court verdict,” said Kakar.
However, Sen. Mushahidullah Khan, central leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and federal minister for climate change, defended the prime minister’s remarks, saying he was “100 percent right.”
“It’s high time we spoke against what happened in Balochistan and the Senate elections,” Khan told Arab News.
“Pakistan has witnessed a historic episode of horse trading this time,” he said. “Leader of the Pakistan People's Party openly said he had brought down the PML-N government in Balochistan. Why shouldn’t we talk against the worst thing that has happened to democracy, and why shouldn’t the prime minister make such a statement?"
“The statement should be taken into its proper context. We have witnessed engineered senate elections, which has benefited some and caused damages to others,” said former Sen. Afrasiab Khattak, who belongs to the Awami National Party (ANP), adding that those who have lost due to this “engineering” will definitely speak against it.
“The prime minister is also leader of a political party and if he feels that the sanctity of the upper house has been compromised, there is no harm in giving such statements,” said Khattak.
The party of prime minister has taken a position against the Senate polls and he is giving statements in line with same position, said Mazhar Abbas, a Karachi-based senior analyst. “However, these are political statements and prime minister should avoid giving political statements. Instead, other leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz should come forward and perform this duty.”
Abbas said that almost every political party has complaints that its senators were being sold. “But not a single party, including the party of prime minister, has taken action against a single member,” he said.
Abbas said that instead of giving statements, the PML-N should adopt legal course and challenge the elections of Senate chairman in the Election Commission of Pakistan. “Pakistan has a culture of political statements and political point scoring. No one goes for the resolution of the issue through proper channels,” said Abbas.
“PM’s annoyance is very obvious. His annoyance is not just about horse-trading, as it has been happening for ages. His annoyance is more about the engineering of the establishment bringing a mosaic of forces on board to defeat PML-N,” said Murtaza Solangi, a senior analyst and former head of the state-run Radio Pakistan.
“At the end of the day, PML-N has to take its share of responsibility for not strengthening the system to stop the practice,” he said.
The prime minister's comments have particularly angered Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and his Balochistan Awami Party.
Abbasi, while addressing different gatherings in Nankana Sahib and Lahore this week, had criticized the election of the Senate chairman, saying there was a need for a “consensus chairman of the upper house of Parliament.” Abbasi further said that votes were purchased.
“Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (the party of PM Abbasi) — is a pioneer and a great proponent of purchasing and selling votes, so it now sees others with the same eyes,” Sen. Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, spokesman of the newly formed ruling Balochistan Awami Party, told Arab News.
“We will go for all forms of agitation to register our protest against the uncalled-for remarks. However, the announcement of March toward Islamabad by the chief minister of Balochistan was symbolic,” Kakar clarified, adding the remarks don’t suit a person of the stature of the prime minister of Pakistan.
Kakar added if Abbasi and his party had an objection they should have moved to the Election Commission and Supreme Court of Pakistan. “But they don’t respect and believe in institutions. If they had (respect), they would have accepted the verdict regarding Nawaz Sharif and being done shame legislation to undo the court verdict,” said Kakar.
However, Sen. Mushahidullah Khan, central leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and federal minister for climate change, defended the prime minister’s remarks, saying he was “100 percent right.”
“It’s high time we spoke against what happened in Balochistan and the Senate elections,” Khan told Arab News.
“Pakistan has witnessed a historic episode of horse trading this time,” he said. “Leader of the Pakistan People's Party openly said he had brought down the PML-N government in Balochistan. Why shouldn’t we talk against the worst thing that has happened to democracy, and why shouldn’t the prime minister make such a statement?"
“The statement should be taken into its proper context. We have witnessed engineered senate elections, which has benefited some and caused damages to others,” said former Sen. Afrasiab Khattak, who belongs to the Awami National Party (ANP), adding that those who have lost due to this “engineering” will definitely speak against it.
“The prime minister is also leader of a political party and if he feels that the sanctity of the upper house has been compromised, there is no harm in giving such statements,” said Khattak.
The party of prime minister has taken a position against the Senate polls and he is giving statements in line with same position, said Mazhar Abbas, a Karachi-based senior analyst. “However, these are political statements and prime minister should avoid giving political statements. Instead, other leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz should come forward and perform this duty.”
Abbas said that almost every political party has complaints that its senators were being sold. “But not a single party, including the party of prime minister, has taken action against a single member,” he said.
Abbas said that instead of giving statements, the PML-N should adopt legal course and challenge the elections of Senate chairman in the Election Commission of Pakistan. “Pakistan has a culture of political statements and political point scoring. No one goes for the resolution of the issue through proper channels,” said Abbas.
“PM’s annoyance is very obvious. His annoyance is not just about horse-trading, as it has been happening for ages. His annoyance is more about the engineering of the establishment bringing a mosaic of forces on board to defeat PML-N,” said Murtaza Solangi, a senior analyst and former head of the state-run Radio Pakistan.
“At the end of the day, PML-N has to take its share of responsibility for not strengthening the system to stop the practice,” he said.
