Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Khursheed Shah on Friday termed articles 62 and 63 of the constitution as ‘black laws’, saying that the recent disqualification of foreign minister Khawaja Asif has its roots in the reign of military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.
Expressing his displeasure over Kh Asif’s disqualification by the Islamabad High Court, Shah said the ousting of the parliamentary leader is ‘disappointing’. “Pakistan should practice parliamentary politics. Parliament should have been the decision maker in the matter,” he said. “Judges should let political affairs remain between politicians. General Zia-ul-Haq never spared a politician in his life, and his laws aren’t sparing politicians today,” he said. “Even Zia’s children are being victimised because of the laws he created. We approached Nawaz for amending the laws, but he did not cooperate,” he added.
Speaking about the budget for fiscal year 2018-19 which the government presented on Friday, the opposition leader said, “The government should not have presented a budget for more than four months. The opposition will accept a budget of four months.” “I fear that the government is trying to play with the sovereignty of the parliament by eyeing up a full year’s budget,” he added.
Published in Daily Times, April 28th 2018.
