Parties should sit together for sake of democracy: HRCP.

LAHORE -- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on TueAsday warned that the current political crisis was designed to 'stall the democratic process' and undermine the efficacy and legitimacy of the parliament.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, HRCP Chairperson Hina Jilani demanded all politicians sit together and resoAlve issues to streAngthen the democratic process.

She said political parties should also not look towards the Supreme Court and armed forces to resolve their problems and should sit together to amicably solve their issues.

The HRCP chairperson alos noted how the dissenting order issued by two judges of the Supreme Court had 'vindicated' the political parties' apprehension on the court's decision on holding elections.

Hina Jilani says dissenting note by judges vindicates political parties' apprehensions on SC order

Ms Jilani said the order, authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, was 'an eye opener' and it was now the institutions' turn to prove their impartiality.

To a question about the Supreme Court's role in conducting elections, the HRCP chairperson said the court should not intervene in political matters as the matter was challenging the judiciary's freedom.

She added that there should be a constitutional court to address the matters related to the Constitution or a full court bench should be established for adjudicating on these issues.

Ms Jilani said that it was important to uphold and strengthen the democratic process and exprAessed profound concern at the crises and polarisation across the political spectrum.

'Unwanted precedent'

In an apparent reference to the PTI, the HRCP governing body said a political party first abandoned the National Assembly and then dissolved two provincial assemblies. Those in the government blocked the reversal of this move by thwarting the opposition's attempted return to the National Assembly.

Although the commission agreed the dissolution of Punjab and KP assemblies was 'politically expedient,' it exprAessed concern over the postponement of the elections till October by the Election...