LAHORE: PML-N Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt has called for accountability of former Army Chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa and three former Supreme Court judges, arguing that their names should also be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). His remarks come shortly after a military court sentenced former ISI Director General Lt Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment on charges of political interference, breaches of the Official Secrets Act and abuse of authority.
Speaking to a private news channel, Senator Butt said the military had set what he described as a “historic example” by taking action against Faiz Hameed. He added that he believed similar proceedings should eventually be initiated against Gen (r) Bajwa. According to Butt, Faiz Hameed exceeded his mandate and continued to interfere in political matters even after retiring, making the institution’s decision to proceed against him both necessary and justified.
The senator also raised serious concerns about the role of former chief justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa, as well as Justice Ijazul Ahsan. He alleged that the three judges delivered controversial decisions against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and argued that they too should face accountability mechanisms. He urged the Supreme Court or the federal government to initiate action, saying the public deserved transparency regarding those judgments.
Senator Butt further demanded that all individuals allegedly involved in what he termed “toppling Nawaz Sharif’s government” should be added to the ECL. This list, he said, should include Gen (r) Bajwa and the three judges. He argued that ensuring accountability across institutions would prevent any future attempts to undermine elected governments and would reinforce democratic stability.
He also suggested that those who “conspired against Nawaz Sharif” should apologise to the former prime minister, stressing that political engineering had harmed the country’s democratic process for years.
When questioned about why the PML-N voted in favour of granting an extension to Gen (r) Bajwa during his tenure, despite later criticism, Senator Butt said that only Nawaz Sharif could fully explain the political circumstances and reasoning behind that decision.
Commenting on broader political issues, the senator clarified that, in his personal opinion, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should not be banned. He said political bans had historically proved counterproductive and that the focus should remain on strengthening democratic practices rather than restricting political participation.
