In the letter shared by PM Office Media Wing

In the letter shared by PM Office Media Wing, the prime minister further addressing the president said that it was a matter of record that previously, he (the president) had acted in a similar patrician manner on several occasions in violation of his oath.

These occasions included i.e. letter for dissolution of the National Assembly on April 3, 2022 on the illegal instructions of the former prime minister (Imran Khan) which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on April 7 last year and upon his elections as the prime minister, the president failed to discharge his constitutional duty in terms of clause (5) of Article 91.

“Despite the foregoing and several other instances, where you actively worked towards undermining a constitutionally elected government. I have made all-out efforts to maintain a good working relationship with you. However, the contents of your letter, its tone and language have compelled me to respond to it,” the prime minister further added.

The prime minister responding to the points raised by the president regarding alleged fundamental and human rights violations as highlighted by media, said that the reference was quite clear as it referred to the politicians and workers belonging to a political party to which the president also belonged to.

The prime minister categorically said that substantive and procedural due process guaranteed under the Constitution under Articles 4 and 10A was being afforded to all.

“All the actions taken by the law enforcement agencies are strictly in accordance with law to maintain law and order and establish the writ of the state,” he said, adding that in all instances, aggrieved persons had approached the appropriate legal fora.

The prime minister further observed that regrettably due to party allegiance, the president failed to note sheer violation of laws, contumacious disregard of courts orders, attacking the law enforcement agencies, damaging public property, attempts to create chaos, civil and political unrest and ‘in short to bring the country to the brink of economic default and civil war’ by the PTI.

He said what had really tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international community and was casting negative repercussions on the future of democracy and state of human rights in Pakistan was the complete disregard of the laws and the constitution by the PTI.

Moreover, the president, on any occasion, had not uttered even a single word regarding the conduct of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, chairman PTI, on is actions in response to lawfully issued court orders for his appearance in criminal proceedings, he added.

The prime minister said “May I also add, never in our history have we ever witnessed such aggressive, rather militant, attitude of political order in complete defiance of court orders.”

The prime minister to another point, maintained that his government ensured complete freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the constitution.

He regretted that the president never raised his voice or shared his concerns in the manner as he had in his letter, in the past when PTI was in power.

The prime minister referred to the annual world report issued by the Human Rights Watch covering 2021 when the PTI’s government was in office, which said “the Pakistan government intensified its efforts to control the media and curtail dissent. Authorities harassed and at times detained journalists and other members of civil society for criticizing government officials and policies. Violent attacks on members of the media also continue.”

The prime minister also referred to AL Jazeera report of last year on the annual World Report 2022 issued by HRW with specific reference to the chapter on Pakistan.

The previous government kept the National Commission for Human Rights dysfunctional for the most part of its tenure, besides deliberately obstructing the appointment of its members and chairperson because the NCHR had issued a damning report on state of human rights.

The prime minister added that there were several reports of the international human rights organizations which reflected poorly on the track record of PTI’s previous government, which unfortunately escaped his (president) attention.

The prime minister reminded the president that he did not raise any concerns when the previous government carried out a witch hunt against the opposition.

He said a fabricated and false narcotics case entailing death penalty was made against Rana Sanaullah Khan, then an MNA.

By framing false cases, male and female members of the parliament of other political parties were subjected to worst kind of political victimization, he said, adding “Even a female member of the family of former prime minister was spared, solely to politically eliminate them.”

The prime minister said that NAB was used to tame the political opposition and dissent.