Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday urged the opposition to reflect on its own political record before criticising the government, calling on all political parties to move forward by signing a new Charter of Democracy.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Asif said political reconciliation was only possible if all sides acknowledged their past actions and committed themselves to democratic norms.
“Whenever someone seeks justice, they should come with clean hands. The opposition should first examine its own past before making accusations,” he said.
Calls for Political Reconciliation
The defence minister acknowledged that both the ruling coalition and opposition had made mistakes over the years but stressed that Pakistan’s political leadership must learn from history.
He invited the opposition to sign a fresh Charter of Democracy similar to the agreement reached between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after years of political rivalry.
“We have also made mistakes. Let us sign the Charter of Democracy, but neither side should forget what happened in the past,” Asif told lawmakers.
References to the 1990s
Recalling the political instability of the 1990s, Asif said both the PPP and PML-N eventually realised that continued confrontation was damaging democracy.
He said former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif agreed to establish a code of conduct that promoted mutual respect between governments and opposition parties, laying the foundation for democratic reforms and later constitutional amendments.
Criticism of the Former PTI Government
Asif strongly criticised the previous government led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, accusing it of weakening parliamentary traditions.
He referred to the passage of 55 pieces of legislation within about 30 minutes before the dissolution of the National Assembly, describing the move as a serious violation of parliamentary norms.
According to the defence minister, the former National Assembly speaker acted in favour of one political party by dissolving the assembly, calling it a “cardinal sin.”
Praise for Current Political Engagement
Highlighting the current government’s approach, Asif noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently crossed over to the opposition benches in Parliament to engage with opposition lawmakers.
He contrasted this with the previous administration, claiming such interaction was “unthinkable” during Imran Khan’s tenure because government members avoided engaging with the opposition.
Need for Further Constitutional Reforms
Asif also argued that Pakistan still requires additional constitutional reforms, saying some earlier amendments had not been implemented as effectively as intended.
He maintained that strengthening democratic institutions requires continuous political dialogue and institutional reforms.
Remarks About Opposition Leadership
During his speech, Asif referred to Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai as his “brother” but remarked that he appeared “out of place” among the current opposition alliance.
Concluding his address, the defence minister criticised what he described as a lack of internal democracy within the opposition, arguing that no political party should operate solely according to the wishes of one individual.
“No political party can function on the whims of one man. There is no democracy in their party. How can they erase their past?” Asif said.
