ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday tendered an apology to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for his earlier remarks in which he had described the chief of the commission as a “mouthpiece of the Opposition.”
Speaking outside the ECP’s office in Islamabad, the minister stressed that he respected the country’s institutions. He had appeared before the commission in relation to his comments about the CEC a few weeks earlier.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the minister told members of the commission that he is a lawyer himself and does “not want to get caught up in show-cause notices.” “Lawyers do not start fights with the courts,” responded the ECP members. “You fight inside the court, not outside them.”
Fawad Chaudhry responded by saying that as the minister of information, whatever he says is the policy of the cabinet. “I am the mouthpiece of the cabinet. At times, I say things but the words are not my own,” he added.
The minister said he “personally respects” the CEC, adding that he did not abuse anyone. “I am sorry,” said the minister. “I apologise for my words.”
The members of the election commission directed Chaudhry to submit his apology in writing.
Briefing the media, he also spoke about the controversy stirred by a signed affidavit of the ex-chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan, Rana Muhammad Shamim, in which he leveled serious allegations against the former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice (retd) Mian Saqib Nisar.
The information minister hit out at Shamim, alleging that he is staying in London at Nawaz Sharif’s expense. “Hussain Nawaz is dealing Rana Shamim,” he claimed. “Nawaz Sharif has even paid the fees of the affidavit that Rana Shamim submitted,” he added.
Fawad Chaudhry said that when individuals are used to malign the reputation of institutions, then a crisis ensues. “This is why I think the notice taken by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah is a reasonable decision,” he said.
He lashed out at the PML-N, accusing the party of “orchestrating a campaign against the country’s institutions.” Chaudhry said he considered Shamim’s statement as an attack on Pakistan’s judiciary.
While speaking about the joint session of the Parliament convened for today (Wednesday), Fawad said that the government is ready to implement electoral reforms in its true spirit.
The minister wondered why the Opposition cries foul whenever the government talks about bringing electoral reforms. He said the PTI-led government is ready to speak to all parties concerned for electoral reforms. “We are ready to talk with the sincerest of intentions with everyone,” he underlined.
“The Opposition should sit with us and in tomorrow’s session, they should go over the amendments and if they need it to be amended, then they should bring forth those amendments,” he said. “We will discuss it. But reforms are necessary.”
He reiterated that the government’s allies had reposed their confidence in the prime minister’s leadership, adding that Pakistan needs judicial and media reforms as well.