Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that while he respects Mahmood Khan Achakzai, he finds him looking somewhat out of place while sitting among members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif urged opposition parties to move beyond past political disputes and work toward a new Charter of Democracy.
He acknowledged that mistakes had been made by various political forces in the past but noted that the Charter of Democracy signed between Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif helped improve the country’s political environment.
According to the defence minister, the political experiences of the 1990s offer important lessons, and all parliamentarians share responsibility for maintaining the dignity of the legislature.
Khawaja Asif recalled periods of intense confrontation inside parliament but said political reconciliation eventually helped reduce tensions.
He also criticized PTI, claiming that the party had caused significant damage to constitutional and parliamentary traditions and lacked internal democratic practices.
The minister argued that a political party cannot function effectively if it revolves entirely around a single individual and emphasized the need to strengthen democratic norms and parliamentary dialogue.
