ISLAMABAD: After the Supreme Court refused to constitute a full court to hear the petition against the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the ruling coalition held a press conference late at night and announced a boycott of the proceedings.
Leaders of the administering parties, who termed the Supreme Court’s verdict as “unacceptable”, gathered at the Prime Minister’s Office to determine their future course of activity. A late night meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Tending to a press conference after the meeting on Monday night, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that anything decision the three-member bench hearing the case conveys will be considered fractional. Dismissing the Preeminent Court’s refusal of a full court, he said that the government will not show up some time recently this bench.
“The government wants no interference in its affairs and seeks a continuation of its policies for which it will also suggest parliament legislate to ensure respect to the people and judiciary’s verdicts.”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that this case will be a test for the Supreme Court. “Justice demands that if a question has been raised over a bench or judge, they should recuse themselves. This is supremacy of the law. It is for this bench to decide how their conduct will go down in history.”
Federal Ministers Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Ahsan Iqbal and leaders of coalition parties also talked on this occasion.
In a tweet, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz claimed that now people know that decisions in the country are based on personal likes and dislikes.
Yesterday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, while speaking outside the Supreme Court building, indicated that if the full court is not formed, the ruling alliance will boycott the proceedings of the case.
Resuming the government’s plead for the final time after some rescheduling late into the night, the court refused the appeal to establish a full court, and suspended the hearing till Tuesday morning (today).
Primarily this morning, coming down hard on the judiciary and questioning its impartiality, all parties in the coalition government came together to express ‘no confidence’ in the three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial. Hamza Shahbaz as Chief Minister, and reiterated his demand for a full court to decide the case.
In a high-profile press conference held at the PM’s office, senior leaders of all parties in the coalition government said they would not accept any verdict announced by the three-judge bench, which they alleged was against Pakistan. He was inclined towards PTI, but were ready to accept the decision of the Full Court.
Opening the press conference, Maryam Nawaz of Muslim League (N) said that there are many respected judges in the Supreme Court, and questioned why they are not hearing cases. “One or two judges, who have always been anti-PML-N and anti-government, are frequently added to the benches,” he remarked, adding that “bench-fixing is as big a crime as match-fixing”.
She alleged that the court decisions were in favor of the PTI even though it had constantly mocked the judicial system. She questioned the state of justice in the country where judgments were handed down in favor of those who “abuse and bully institutions the most”.
Ms Nawaz also cited several examples of legal problems facing the PML-N leadership, claiming that its leaders were being discriminated against. Regarding his cousin Hamza Shehbaz being asked to remain the Chief Minister with limited powers, he asked, “Have you ever heard of a credible Chief Minister?” Not allowed to work. “He is going round and round between parliament and courts, what kind of justice is that?”
Referring to the April 16 election for Punjab chief minister, the PML-N leader said the court de-seated 25 provincial legislators on the PTI’s request to vote for Hamza. “Ninety-five percent of independent jurists said it was tantamount to rewriting the constitution… 25 PML-N members were added to PTI’s tally… PML-N’s votes were cut and PTI’s increased. gone.”
In response to a question that despite the many allegations leveled against former Prime Minister Imran Khan by the coalition parties and the status of the Cabinet Committee set up to try PTI leaders under Article 6, his As for why no action is being taken, Ms. Nawaz said that they can only do it. Once he had faced many court cases against him.