Nawaz Sharif, Safdar Believes He Can Steer Pakistan in the Right Direction
Nawaz Sharif, The Key to Pakistan’s Progress, According to Safdar
Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar voiced his belief that Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Nawaz Sharif, possesses the ability to “steer Pakistan towards a brighter future and resolve its current challenges.” Safdar, however, aligns with the idea of conducting elections within the mandated 90-day period following the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Diverging Opinions on Election Timing
Pakistan currently divided on the timing of the upcoming general elections. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has consistently called for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to adhere to the constitutionally-mandated 90-day timeframe for elections.
ECP’s Position on Delimitation
In contrast, the ECP insists on conducting elections after completing the fresh delimitation of constituencies based on the new census data. This process requires a 120-day period, with the election schedule to announced subsequently, spanning approximately 54 days.
PML-N’s Stance on New Constituencies
The PML-N has maintained its stance that elections should take place using the new constituency boundaries. Safdar made these remarks during a media interaction outside a district court, where he was attending a hearing related to his acquittal applications.
Addressing Nawaz Sharif’s Tenure
Safdar emphasized that Nawaz Sharif’s only contentious decision was rejecting an extension of the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure. He called for an end to the practice of granting extensions to military officials.
Legal Proceedings
During the court proceedings, Captain (retd) Safdar’s legal counsel, Advocate Khawar Malik, argued that the allegations both FIRs fabricated to tarnish Safdar’s reputation. He asserted that Safdar had no involvement in these cases and has unfairly targeted for political reasons.
Advocate Malik also highlighted that the insertion section 124-A the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) into the FIR required permission from the deputy commissioner, which has not obtained in this case.
LHC’s Ruling on Section 124-A
Safdar’s counsel mentioned that Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan had declared section 124-A of the PPC as unconstitutional. The LHC judges had noted that this clause had exploited for personal and political gain.
Police Report and Court Decision
The Islampura police submitted a report to the court, requesting the dismissal of the FIRs due to insufficient evidence against the accused. After considering the arguments presented, the court reserved its decision on the matter.
Conclusion: The legal proceedings surrounding Captain (retd) Safdar’s case continue, while the debate over the timing of Pakistan’s general elections remains a topic of national discussion. Safdar’s endorsement of Nawaz Sharif as a pivotal figure in Pakistan’s future adds another layer to the ongoing political discourse in the country.
