- The PDM leaders with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair has expressed lack of confidence in the three-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial hearing elections delay.
Lahore: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which is the ruling coalition, on Saturday announced boycott of the Supreme Court three-member bench seized with the hearing of the petitions challenging delay in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections.
The coalition partners expressed their lack of confidence in the three-member bench of the Supreme Court that is headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
The apex court bench was hearing petitions challenging the delay in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections.
The larger bench, it said, had already issued its verdict and now the three-member bench wanted to impose its minority verdict on the majority.
The PDM said that it was the matter of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the three-member bench should get away from the bench.
The development took place a day after the top court gave another opportunity to all the political parties to sit together and discuss the election date and deliberate code of conduct in this regard. The apex court also made it clear that if the government and the opposition failed to reach any conclusion, then the judges of the top court would play their constitutional role.
The PDM made this decision in a huddle that was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PML-N Secretariat in Model Town in Lahore. The PDM leaders decided to boycott the bench that is hearing the case.
The coalition partners issued a declaration stating that they did not trust the three-member bench of the Supreme Court. They also expressed support for the recently done legislation on the Supreme Court and other issues. The PDM expected that the legislation would bring an end to the unidirectional approach of justice towards the general public.
The PDM leaders asked the top judge to end the impression of special treatment with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
They also decided to file a reference against the CJP and two other judges of the top court. Additionally, they have suggested that the Attorney General for Pakistan should appear before the top court and express distrust on the three-member bench. The PDM leaders have also hoped that President Alvi will not become a hurdle in the way of the legislation by staying away from his political affiliation.
Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, took part in the huddle through a video link from London. He expressed complete mistrust in the three-member bench of the Supreme Court hearing the elections delay case. He also suggested that the Attorney General for Pakistan should appear before the top court and express distrust on the three-member bench. Nawaz Sharif has approved the suggestion of the PDM leaders regarding the boycott of the bench.
Asif Ali Zardari, former president and co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, also took part in the huddle through a video link from Dubai.
The PTI leaders reacted to the declaration issued by the PDM leaders by saying that they did not have any problem with any chief justice. They also said that if the PDM expressed lack of confidence in the Supreme Court bench, it would be a contempt of court.
Imran Khan said if the elections were not held within 90 days of period then they would be on the roads. He said that they did not have any connection with the establishment.
