Answering a query about action against civilians under the Pakistan Army Act, Barrister Ali Zafar said that action against those who attacked Lahore corps commander's house (Jinnah House) and other military installations can be tried and prosecuted under the Army Act, and doing so would be "valid" in his legal opinion. "If any civilian attacks the installations of Pakistan Army, action can be taken under the Army Act. Violent protests cannot be supported under any circumstances," Zafar added.
The barrister, who is also a member of the Senate of Pakistan on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket, said that with what is happening now, he did not see negotiations happening again, and the situation was "difficult at this time".
Barrister Ali Zafar further said that disobeying the constitution means disobeying democracy. "The government of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is unconstitutional, because their term is over but they are still running their business," the PTI senator said.
Yesterday, Allama Iqbal's grandson and PTI senator Waleed Iqbal tried to defend the PTI by claiming that his party leadership had nothing to do with the activists involved in the Jinnah House attack. "It was an individual and personal act of the workers," Iqbal said as he shifted all blame and culpability to his party workers and supporters of Imran Khan, thousands of whom are languishing in jails.
Senator Waleed Iqbal also claimed that neither his party had made any such announcement to attack the army or its facilities, nor did the PTI have "any policy in this regard". Describing the attack on Jinnah House as "shameful" and "condemnable", Iqbal also said that action should be taken against all the people involved, under the Army Act as well as whatever other laws apply.