Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister and prominent member of the PML-N, has harshly criticised the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s most recent decision in the Punjab poll delay case.
Sharif has urged the Supreme Judicial Council to receive a reference against the three judges of Pakistan’s top court, including the Chief Justice (SJC).
In a press conference, Sharif expressed his displeasure with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the Punjab Assembly elections until October. Sharif has been living in London since November 2019 due to medical reasons.
Despite the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) request for a full court to hear the case, this decision was made.
The Punjab Assembly general elections will be held on May 14th, according to the three-member bench, which is chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and also includes Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar. The bench also ruled that the ECP’s decision was “unconstitutional.”
Sharif claimed that because “today’s judgement is a charge sheet against these three judges,” “a reference should be filed in the Supreme Judicial Council against them.”
The Supreme Court’s decision to remove him from office in 2016 was also criticised, and he said that “all-out efforts are being made to bring Imran Khan back into power.” He was referring to the Pakistani Prime Minister at the time.
In addition, Sharif claimed that the Supreme Court broke the law when it granted the Imran-led PTI control of Punjab and barred dissenting lawmakers from voting against the party line.
With the words “these people are ruining Pakistan, stand against it,” he urged the populace to protest the SC’s three-member panel’s decision.
Sharif responded that “such decisions were made when there was something fishy” in response to a question regarding the CJP’s refusal to convene a full court in the polls delay case.
In conclusion, the recent Supreme Court decision on the Punjab poll delay case has stirred up controversy in response to Sharif’s press conference.
His request to file a reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the other three senior court judges is likely to spark more discussion and debate about the subject.
