ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 14th Aug, 2026) Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Friday urged the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to pursue its political agenda through democratic means, saying constitutional rights of political parties could not be exercised at the expense of the rights and daily lives of ordinary citizens.
Addressing an Independence Day ceremony here, he said Pakistan needed political stability, unity and economic development rather than confrontation, violence and polarisation.
The minister said all political parties had the right to their respective ideologies, programmes and constitutional freedoms, but no group could be allowed to disrupt public order or prevent citizens from going about their routine activities.
Referring to previous PTI protests in Islamabad, he said residents of the capital also had constitutional rights, including access to workplaces, markets, hospitals and educational institutions.
He said the government would not allow any political activity that created a law-and-order situation in the capital, recalling the deaths of four Rangers personnel during earlier protests.
Dr Tariq said Pakistan’s political history showed that prolonged confrontation between political parties served no national interest. Recalling the political rivalry between the PML-N and PPP during the 1980s and 1990s, he said the two sides had eventually recognised the need to respect each other’s political existence and keep competition within the democratic arena.
He said PTI promoted a politics of division and country’s youth should not be exposed to political hatred and polarisation.
He said more than 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population comprised young people, making them a major national asset. Their energies, he added, should be directed towards education, employment, technology, entrepreneurship and national development.
The minister also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party for questioning the credibility of the recent elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the elections were transparent and credible, saying individual complaints regarding irregularities should be dealt with through the relevant electoral and legal mechanisms rather than being used to discredit the entire process.
Dr Tariq Fazal said the PML-N itself had raised concerns regarding the Haveli constituency and had called upon the AJK Election Commission to decide the matter on merit.
He said this demonstrated that political parties could raise electoral concerns through democratic and constitutional forums without challenging the entire electoral process.
The minister expressed confidence that the AJK Legislative Assembly would meet the following week and that a new government led by the PML-N would subsequently be formed.
He urged political parties to avoid statements or actions that could disturb peace in AJK and said political competition should be conducted through democratic means.
Turning to Pakistan’s foreign policy, Dr Tariq Fazal said the country was playing an active role in diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Iran-US conflict peacefully.
He said Pakistan’s efforts for a negotiated and durable settlement would continue and that Islamabad had not withdrawn from its diplomatic engagement.
The minister said Pakistan’s growing diplomatic relevance should be translated into tangible economic benefits for the country, including investment, employment and opportunities for young people.
He said Pakistani professionals were already demonstrating their capabilities across the world in information technology, engineering, artificial intelligence, medicine and business.
Providing them with better opportunities and a level playing field at home, he added, would enable them to contribute even more effectively to the national economy.
Dr Tariq Fazal also linked Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations to the country’s growing strategic importance, saying the presence of Pakistani, Saudi and Turkish flags at celebrations reflected close relations among the three countries.
He said Pakistan’s defence cooperation ( Makkah Agreement) with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye represented an important development adding that the country’s military capabilities had enhanced its standing in the region.
He said Pakistan’s armed forces were primarily responsible for defending the country but could also play a role in strengthening the security of friendly countries under mutually agreed arrangements.
Dr Tariq Fazal said the prime minister’s political leadership, together with Field Marshal Asim Munir’s strategic and visionary leadership, had contributed to strengthening the country’s position, particularly in the security and defence domains.
The minister praised the armed forces, particularly their performance during the May 2025 conflict with India, saying Pakistan’s military capabilities had conveyed a message that any aggression would meet a strong response.
Dr Tariq Fazal said the government was determined to address terrorism and instability in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that militant groups operating in Pakistan were being supported through Indian proxies, and said the government, armed forces, law-enforcement agencies and political leadership would continue working together against militancy.
He said the objective was to establish lasting peace and ensure that security challenges did not undermine the country’s economic and social development.
Reflecting on the creation of Pakistan, the minister said Independence Day was a reminder of the enormous sacrifices made by the people during the partition of the subcontinent.
He urged younger generations to learn from those who had witnessed the creation of Pakistan and to understand the price paid for freedom.
He said national interest should remain the foremost priority of every political leader and public office-holder.
Dr Tariq Fazal stressed that Pakistan’s future depended on unity, political stability and economic progress, and expressed confidence that the country could overcome its challenges through collective effort and sustained commitment to national development.
