Opposition Leader in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, has welcomed the Islamabad High Court’s decision regarding the rights of the PTI founder, accusing the government of failing to implement court orders and of denying him rights available under prison laws.
Talking to the media in his chamber, Abbas said Pakistan’s courts were under considerable pressure because existing laws and rules were not being implemented, forcing people to approach the judiciary to secure their rights.
He said a former prime minister also had legal rights and alleged that the PTI founder had been kept in solitary confinement and denied those rights.
Abbas also claimed that court decisions were not being implemented.
He welcomed the Islamabad High Court’s decision but said the PTI founder should have been provided his rights without having to seek intervention from the judiciary.
“I wish the founder of PTI should have been given rights before going to the courts,” he said.
The opposition leader accused the government of creating obstacles to people exercising their rights and alleged that the Constitution held no sanctity in the government’s eyes.
He described the High Court ruling as a “charge sheet against the government” and said the existing system was failing to serve the people.
Responding to a question about the name of a parliamentary committee, Abbas said no contact had yet been made with the opposition.
He said the joint opposition would collectively decide its position whenever it was formally contacted.
Abbas said the opposition would not become part of a process it did not consider credible. He also criticised the practice of forming committees after major incidents, saying committees were constituted but the reality behind incidents was eventually buried.
Referring to the PIMS tragedy and the subsequent report, Abbas said he did not know how certain matters had been included in the report.
He questioned the management of the health sector, saying that one minister could not run two hospitals and that the performance of the concerned federal minister was a question mark.
Abbas held the health minister directly responsible and alleged that the overall system had collapsed and could no longer bear the burden of the people.
“This system is a burden on the people,” he said.
He alleged that there had been deaths and criminal negligence in the PIMS tragedy and claimed that no one agreed with the government’s actions.
The opposition leader also launched a broader attack on the government, accusing those in power of seizing control by force and calling them “usurpers”.
He said Pakistan’s parliament had lost its respect and honour and was failing to protect the Constitution.
Abbas criticised the legislative process, alleging that laws were being passed without proper review and that constitutional amendments had weakened the Constitution.
He said parliament itself appeared to be declaring that it was no longer supreme.
Commenting on regional defence cooperation, Abbas said a defence agreement would be better if other countries were also included.
He also said Pakistan should play a role in ending tensions between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
