Elements found involved in May 9 riots would be held accountable under the law, says Kakar
News Desk |
September 23, 2023
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated on Saturday that no political party would be barred from contesting the general elections. However, he made it clear that the elements found guilty of being involved in the May 9 riots would be held accountable under the law.
Addressing a press conference in New York just before his return to Pakistan, PM Kakar said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had not issued a notification about banning any political party, adding that the electoral watchdog would announce the date of elections in due course.
In response to a question about the potential arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif upon his return, the caretaker PM emphasised that the matter would be handled in accordance with the law.
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“If anyone, including myself, violates the law of the country, or emerges to be a threat to the life and property of the people, justifies it as his political right and set fire to buildings, then the Constitution and law of Pakistan does not allow any political party, including PTI, PPP or PML-N to do that,” the premier said.
“Those accused of engaging in vandalism will face our courts,” he added.
The caretaker prime minister acknowledged that there may be certain deficiencies within the system, seemingly alluding to the entrenched governance style, and affirmed that his government would try to improve it, stressing that the solutions to these issues must be sought within the existing system, not from outside.
Last month, during an interactive session with students of Harvard University in Islamabad, PM Kakar was quoted as saying that social order can “never ever be compromised for the rule of law”, stressing a balance between the two.
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“We are committed and understand that the performance and the participatory idea of democracy is what is needed but at the same time, you have to strike a balance — there’s a rule of law and then there’s a rule of order,” he said.
He said that whoever violated the laws of the country and caused damage to the life and property of the citizens and then said that it is related to politics, then action would be taken against such activities according to the law without any discrimination.
