LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concerns at the situation developed in the wake of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan moved by the opposition parties.

“It is regrettable that a process that is well within the ambit of the Constitution – and clearly defined in it – has been made controversial and the basis for greater political polarisation in an attempt to trigger a constitutional crisis in the country,” a statement issued by the commission said.

It added that the commission firmly believed in constitutionalism and the primacy of the parliament in undertaking processes within their domain.

“Measures to obstruct parliamentary functions and the smooth conclusion of a constitutional process are no less than attempts to derail the democratic process and deny people the benefit of their right to representative government. Both the government and the opposition are obliged to adhere to the rule of law defined by the Constitution,” the statement said.

It added that it’s against the public interest if the matters to be settled in the Parliament were taken to the streets or intervention of other institutions was sought to determine the fate of a process that was within the parliamentary domain.

The commission said that civil society was indispensable to the democratic dispensation and it could not be a silent spectator of the events that could result in regressive long-term constitutional effects.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2022