Ruling coalition calls for full court or else agrees to boycott election case hearing

In a move that could further escalate political tensions and Constitutional crisis in Pakistan, the PDM-led ruling coalition has agreed to boycott the ongoing Supreme Court (SC) proceeding on the election delay case.

The decision to boycott the hearing came after the top court rejected the ruling alliance’s plea for a full court bench in the election delay case.

Tooay, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the allied parties at his Model Town residence in Lahore.

The meeting, which lasted for over three hours, was also attended by Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, who joined via video-link from London.

Key points of allies meeting’s declaration

• Ruling parties expressed no confidence on the three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan

• A larger bench of the Supreme Court has already dismissed the election petitions by a majority of 4-3

• Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) wants to impose a minority decision on the majority

• References filed under Article 209 of Pakistan Bar Council and other Bar Associations should be processed

• SC bench, headed by Justice Faiz Isa, asked to stay proceedings on the cases pending under Section 184 (3). It is also mandatory for everyone to respect the decision of Justice Qazi Faiz Isa bench

• It is unfair for Justice Ejazul Ahsan to join the three-member bench yet again. Re-joining of Justice Ejaz ul Ahsan is a clear violation of the procedure and precedents of the Supreme Court

• Politicians are being asked to sit together but the Supreme Court itself is divided

• These circumstances require that the CJP and other judges of the three-member bench should withdraw from the case

• Declaration of the meeting’s strong endorsement and support of the recent legislation regarding judicial reforms of the Parliament. The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill will end the practice of one-sided justice towards the people. Parliament has made clear its opinion on Article 184(3) through legislation

• Parliament is supreme whose opinion should be respected by all quarters

• It is hoped that the President will not obstruct legislation on the basis of party affiliation

• Chief Justice of Pakistan should end the perception of special discriminatory behavior in the case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the meeting demanded

Nawaz Sharif proposals to end crisis

Nawaz Sharif proposed that the allies should boycott the apex court hearing until a full court bench is constituted.

The proposal was unanimously accepted by all coalition partners, indicating a hardening of the political stance against the judiciary.

Also read: 10 major points from Justice Mandokhail’s dissenting note in polls delay case

The current political situation, the upcoming elections in line with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision, and the SC proceedings, as well as the role of the CJP and the top court, took center stage during the huddle.

Earlier, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in a conversation with media persons in London raised questions over the proceedings of the apex court and called for a full court in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections case.

Know more: CJP Bandial says ready to call army if required

The former premier citing prices of vegetables, US dollar, sugar, Electricity bill, flour, and other essential commodities, said that his government controlled the prices and provided relief to the masses.

He said load shedding was also eliminated while terrorism was over and foreign exchange reserves had reached the highest level.

Nawaz Sharif said nowadays Pakistan has to request Rs1 billion from friendly countries.

PMLN supremo said Imran Khan has turned such a good nation into beggars.

Speaking from London, Nawaz Sharif said PMLN said goodbye to the international lender IMF.

PTI rejects govt’s allies declaration

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the declaration of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance meeting that agreed to boycott the three-member bench.

PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhary, while reacting to the declaration of the PDM meeting, said that the meetings and declarations of ‘fascist criminals’ has no status.

“Instead we that PDM, that created chaos and excitement in country, would apologize for the deaths of two dozen citizens who died in free flour queues. But the they are directly attacking the Constitution.”