Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded to harsh criticism from the opposition in the National Assembly by urging them to acknowledge their own past conduct. His comments followed a day of intense debate and strong condemnation of the current government, judiciary, and military establishment by opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai. Asif invoked the principle of “clean hands” – seeking fairness while maintaining integrity – and questioned the opposition’s standing to demand accountability. He challenged the opposition to sign a Charter of Democracy, acknowledging past mistakes on both sides, and referencing a previous period of political turmoil and eventual cooperation between the PPP and PML-N. Asif also criticised the previous PTI government’s legislative practices. The minister’s statements signal a call for a more constructive political dialogue and a commitment to learning from past conflicts to foster stability.