Chairman of the Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that political instability increased due to disqualification of the Sharif Brothers. Talking to private TV channel on Wednesday, he said that it is the historical event, added that he already said one year before that politics was going to change in Pakistan.
He said that according to 17th amendment, Mian Shahbaz Sharif cannot contest for the provincial assembly but for the national assembly and this decision cannot harm to him. He said that Mian Nawaz Sharif was technically knockout and buckled up to the dead end. He said that now Pakistan Muslim League – N (PML-N) try to week federal government and also to made long march successful.
Former President Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan said that PCO Judges took revenge from Sharif Brothers by disqualifying them. While talking to the private TV channel, he said that it will harm the government and also Pakistan People Party (PPP). He said that the Supreme Court took the decision under the government pressure. He added that it will destabilize to the country and politics.
Strongly criticizing Supreme Court’s decision on Sharif brothers case Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the decision was taken according to President Asif Ali Zardari’s law not the country’s law. Talking to a private TV Channel here on Wednesday, he said that the current decision proved that personal decision would be kept imposing unless the judiciary was made independent.
He flayed the Supreme Court saying on the one hand it gave indemnity under NRO in corruption and murder cases but on the other hand it disqualified the people Sharif brothers’ who had the people’s mandate. To a question, he said that the apex court must not consider Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif’s statements regarding the Supreme Court rather it should give the verdict according to the constitution and law.
PML-N should have boycotted the polls held last years as it was executed through a preplan conspiracy for the continuity of former president Musharraf’s policies adding PTI boycotted the polls on its principles as without independent judiciary the democracy could not be strengthened, PTI Chairman stated. He; however, urged the people to participate in the lawyers’ long march for the restoration of the deposed judiciary.
Federal Minister for Labour and Power Syed Khurshid Shah said that the governor’s rule would not be imposed in Punjab after dissolution of Shahbaz Sharif’s government. Talking to media men here outside the parliament, he termed the Supreme Court’s decisions regarding Sharif brothers’ case as defeat of the federal government saying it was part of the case. He denied that the news regarding President Asif Ali Zardari’s involvement in the case saying President Zardari himself offered PML-N to form the government in Punjab; therefore, there was no question of his involvement in the case. To a question, he said that the government was analyzing the decision given by the court.
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Wednesday announced countrywide protest against the Supreme Court verdict that has disqualified the party leaders Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal on disqualification of Sharifs said the party won’t accept the decision. Ahsan said that the PCO courts could not declare disqualify the leaders of millions people. He said his party would get the country free from the PCO judges. Another PML-N leader Siddiq-ul-Farooq said the verdict has proved Nawaz Sharif’s statement that a conspiracy being hatched. “We are still determined and will restore the judiciary on pre-November 3 position,” he further said. He vowed that PML-N government would be saved in Punjab at any cost. Farooq said that PPP has to face the people’s decision in the next general elections and its position would be bitter than 1997 elections.
Prominent lawyer S.M. Safar on Wednesday said that the decision like it never made in the history of the country; commenting on the Supreme Court’s verdict on Sharif brothers’ case. Talking to media men here, he said that he personally got hurt on the decision as two best leaders of a political party were disqualified and they would not be able to take part in elections further. To a question, he said that the governor could appoint any one as Chief Minister of Punjab and invite him to take vote of confidence but the duration for the appointment was not mentioned in the constitution; however, it should be done immediately according to spirit of the constitution. When asked, he said that the disqualification of the chief minister would not affect the Speaker of Punjab Assembly.
Jamiat Ulema Islami-F (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman urged President Asif Ali Zardari to play his role in order to take the country out of the current crisis. Talking to media men here, he said that the courts should not disqualify the peoples’ representatives as it was equal to halt the democratic process. Regretting over the SC decision, he said that the country could not afford such decisions and asked the politician not to make the circumstances so bitter that could not be controlled. He asked PML-N and PPP to make contact with each other in order take the country out of the crisis.
PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that the disqualification of Sharif brothers should not be celebrated.
While the PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed said that disqualification of Sharif brothers would harm the country and democracy. He said that country situation would become critical and it would affect the reconciliation process. He said that there should have some middle way despite of the disqualification.
PML-Q Vice President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that there should be no discussion on the Supreme Court decision.
Parliamentary Committee for National Security expressed anxiety and fear against the Supreme Court’s verdict in which it disqualified Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif from Punjab Assembly. After the committee meeting the JUI-S leader Maulana Sami-ul-Haq said that the verdict taken by the SC was totally harmful for the country. He further stated that Pakistan was in war time condition and the national integrity was being harmed through the said decision.
Two members of Punjab Assembly belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have resigned as protest against the Supreme Court’s ruling to declare Sharif brothers’ ineligible. According to sources, PML-N sent the resignations to Speaker of Punjab Assembly.