'How can they delete their past': Khawaja Asif tells opposition to correct its ways

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday told the opposition to examine its own past before criticising the government and to sign a Charter of Democracy with the government. His remarks come a day after the opposition’s bitter criticism of the government during a tumultuous day in the National Assembly. The opposition leader, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, launched into a harsh diatribe, criticising the government, the judiciary and the establishment. Speaking on the floor of the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday, Asif said, “Whenever I issue instructions or make any demand, I refer to this maxim: If you seek equity, you should come up with clean hands. “When these people demand equity, they also check whether their hands are clean,” the defence minister said, pointing towards the opposition benches. “What did not happen in this House during their time in power?” he asked. “You (the speaker) are a witness, I am a witness … even the walls of this House know what happened. What did they not do to us when they were in government?” the PML-N leader asked. Addressing the House, Asif told the opposition to correct its past and sign a Charter of Democracy with the government. “We have also made mistakes … sign the Charter of Democracy … But us and them should not forget what we have done in the past.” Referring to the political turmoil of the 1990s, the defence minister said that there was a lot of blame between the PPP and the PML-N — now coalition partners in the federal government. “There was a lot of blame between us, but later, both parties … realised that we should take a break from these issues and sort things out among ourselves,” he said. He said that both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif decided that a proper code of conduct should be developed that maintains respect and dignity between the opposition and the ruling parties. Criticising the former PTI government, Asif said, “Sitting in your chair (the speaker), 55 pieces of legislation were passed in just half an