ISLAMABAD -UNS: The federal cabinet on Friday rejected a proposal to impose an emergency in the country to deal with the political turmoil, unrest and violent protests triggered by the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9.
Violent protests erupted across the country soon after the former prime minister was taken into custody in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by the Rangers. At least nine people were killed in the violence-related incidents in Peshawar and other cities. Scores of others were brought to hospitals with injuries in different cities. Meanwhile, army troops were called out in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K P) to deal with the situation.
Quoting inside the story of the cabinet meeting, sources said that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif moved the proposal to impose the emergency but the cabinet members belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) opposed the idea.
The three key component parties of the ruling alliance were of the view that matters could not be resolved by imposing the emergency and it will further disrepute the country.
The cabinet members firmly opposed the internet blackout in most parts of the country, saying that it is doing more harm than good.
During the meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar earned the wrath of the participants for lodging “weak cases” against the PTI chairman.
The huddle also vowed that the entire parliament will stand with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif if contempt of court proceeding is initiated against him.
