PTI, SIC Reject Support for any Operations, Demand Parliament’s Confidence

ISLAMABAD(Mudassar Iqbal);Following their walkout from the National Assembly, leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) convened a press conference in Islamabad to declare their opposition to any military operation without parliamentary approval.

Barrister Gohar emphasized the constitutional requirement for parliament to be consulted on all operations, stating, “No matter how significant, any operation must be brought before parliament. The supremacy of parliament, as per the constitution, cannot be undermined. Like before, the military leadership should come to parliament for briefing and consensus. We walked out in protest for not being allowed to speak.”

Speaker Asad Qaiser echoed these sentiments, criticizing the lack of consultation with opposition parties on crucial decisions. “We cannot endorse any operation conducted without parliamentary confidence. The defense minister’s passive presence does not suffice. Previous operations have not yielded desired outcomes. We advocate for peace but oppose any form of injustice, including levying taxes on FATA/PATA while simultaneously engaging in operations.”

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Opposition leader Umar Ayub stressed the importance of parliamentary oversight in maintaining rule of law, particularly in securing projects like CPEC. “Only through lawful means can sustainable peace be achieved. Peace cannot be imposed through force,” he added.

The joint stance of PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council highlights growing concerns over military decisions and underscores the necessity for democratic processes to guide national security strategies.