ISLAMABAD: PPP Senator Raza Rabbani has urged the government to refrain from invoking Article 6 against top office-holders of the former PTI government in the light of the Supreme Court’s detailed verdict on the April 3 ruling of then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri.

“Without going into the merits of whether Article 6 is attracted in the circumstances of this case, the government should refrain from invoking Article 6. On the principle of across-the-board applicability, in the matter of [the then military ruler] General Pervez Musharraf, this principle failed the test. Civilians are not guinea pigs for its application,” said Mr Rabbani in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement from the PPP leader came three days after the federal cabinet decided to constitute a special ministerial committee to pursue high treason proceedings against President Dr Arif Alvi, PTI chairman Imran Khan, former speaker Asad Qaiser and former deputy speaker of National Assembly Qasim Suri.

Briefing reporters about the cabinet’s decision on July 15, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had stated that the meeting welcomed the detailed judgement of the Supreme Court, and constituted a special committee to do the groundwork for legal action under Article 6 of the Constitution. The committee is led by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and includes ministers for information and interior.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2022