The National Assembly (NA) Speaker, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, has called for a dialogue among all political entities, expressing his concern that the country’s progress has been hindered by continually bringing up past issues. The case has gained attention once again, as the Supreme Court is currently hearing challenges to the February 6, 2019 judgement in the case.
Ashraf emphasizes the need to reflect on the consequences of past events and urges political parties to engage in consultation and dialogue. He criticizes the practice of repeatedly raising past issues and highlights the importance of being forward-looking. He believes that a nation can only progress by addressing wrong actions at the time they occur, rather than bringing them up years later.
Ashraf suggests that all stakeholers should be involved in creating a new social contract through intra-party dialogue. He also stresses the need to address any issues with the military privately, rather than airing them publicly, which may benefit the country’s enemies.
Responding to a question about President Dr Arif Alvi’s performance, Ashraf believes that the President should avoid giving the perception that he represents a specific political party. He also expresses his opinion that political parties should have handled the announcement of the election date themselves, rather than involving the Supreme Court.
In the midst of the discussion, the PML-N, indirectly but indirectly, renews its demand for holding those involved in the ouster of Nawaz Sharif from power accountable. PML-N leaders Mian Javed Latif and Khawaja Asif accuse former Inter Services Intelligence chief Gen Faiz Hamid of being the mastermind behind the 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
In conclusion, Ashraf encourages dialogue among political entities and urges the nation to focus on the future rather than dwelling on the past. He also calls for accountability to be addressed privately and emphasizes the importance of political parties taking responsibility for their own matters.