BNP Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal said those in power defend their actions, but if current actions are declared justified, past martial laws and unconstitutional measures would also have to be accepted as legitimate. Speaking to the media, Akhtar Mengal said people in power try to justify everything. If they consider today’s actions justified, they would also have to justify the October 12, 1999 action and the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He said that, by the same logic, former President General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law, which was contrary to democratic principles, would also have to be justified.

Akhtar Mengal said no action that violates the Constitution and democracy can be supported. He said it was highly shameful for people who support unconstitutional and undemocratic measures to call themselves democrats. He stressed that respect for democracy and the Constitution requires all actions to be judged by the same standard, rather than declaring decisions by those in power correct while rejecting similar actions from the past. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)