SC judges’ letter attempt to create constitutional crisis: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Supreme Court Judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar’s letter to the chief justice, seeking the constitution of a full court to hear petitions challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment, is an another attempt to create a constitutional crisis in the country.

In an interview with HUM TV, Asif said that lawmaking was the prerogative of Parliament, asking “Why they want to become monitors.”

He said that the crisis he had hinted at in October has now passed “with clear skies ahead and there’s no sign of storms. However, threats to parliamentary democracy always persist.”

 Khawaja Asif said that despite a majority in parliamentary democracy, the system remains vulnerable.

Regarding PTI’s predictions after October, Asif confessed that there was some truth to them, saying, “They had done their homework, and the judiciary was involved. When conspiracies are woven in Pakistan, prominent people often get involved.”

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The defense minister said that the overall situation has now improved, with stability and a positive atmosphere prevailing, and that the government would now focus on demonstrating its performance.

He also noted that before yesterday’s legislation, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar was given the opportunity to speak in the assembly, but members of his own party prevented him from doing so.

Khawaja Asif clarified that the extension given to the tenures of military chiefs was not for any individual but for the institution as a whole.

When asked about the potential impact of Donald Trump’s re-election as US president, Asif responded, “If someone thinks a change will occur here as a result, it could be a figment of their imagination. There are no restrictions on dreaming.”