ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as well as pro-government political analysts have termed the Supreme Court’s verdict which barred Nawaz Sharif to head a party as a contrivance which will further politically strengthen the former prime minister.
Earlier in the day, the three-member bench of the apex court led by the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and consisting of Justice Ijazul Ahsen and Justice Umer Ata Bandial in its short judgment into the Election Act 2017 ruled that no person disqualified under articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution can serve as head of a political party.
The judgment brushed aside the controversial Election Act 2017 which after being passed by both Houses of the Parliament last year had paved the way for Nawaz Sharif to head the ruling PML-N after the Supreme Court’s verdict on July 28, 2017 in Panama Papers Case deprived him of the membership of the National assembly as well as the premiership.
“This verdict will not affect PML-N or Nawaz Sharif; rather, this has made PML-N more united,” the State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said while talking to a Private News Channel following the Supreme Court’s verdict.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Supreme Court’s verdict was continuation of Panama’s verdict. She said verdicts from all Courts were coming against Nawaz Sharif.
“The verdict is biased, and only one person and family is being targeted,” the minister said.
Following the Supreme Court’s today verdict, all decisions taken by Nawaz Sharif as the PML-N President stand null and void including the tickets issued by him for the upcoming Senate Election which has now been postponed.
The information minister said all Constitutional departments should play their role for Senate Election.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as per the directives of the Supreme Court, removed the name of Nawaz Sharif as the head of PML-N from its record, and directed the ruling party to fill the vacant post of its president within 45 days.
Sources said that consultation has started in PML-N for the next party head. They said that names of the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz are being discussed for the party’s highest post.
The judgement into Elections Act 2017 followed 17 petitions – filled in the Supreme Court by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Awami Muslim League (AML) and others – against the controversial act which had authorized Nawaz Sharif to take over PML-N again despite being declared ‘dishonest’ by the apex court.
Meanwhile as soon as the Supreme Court read its judgement, PML-N leaders including Maryam Nawaz as well as political analysts took to Twitter and shared their views on the verdict.
کیا اس فیصلے کے بعد پارٹی نواز شریف کو لیڈر ماننا چھوڑ دے گی؟ اس فیصلے نے نواز شریف کے بیانیے کو تقویت دینے کے سواہ کچھ نہیں کیا۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 21, 2018
نااھلیاں جلاوطنیاں دھمکیاں الزامات سازشیں مقدمات سیاست کا دھارا بدل سکے نہ بدل سکیں گے انشاللّٰہ ۔۔۔ جو دل میں بس رھا ھے
حکومت اسی کی ھے pic.twitter.com/MChMOrNz9z— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) February 21, 2018
نا منظور
نا منظور
نا منظور
میری پارٹی میرا لیڈر
میاں نواز شریف …..— AbidSherAli (@AbidSherAli) February 21, 2018
ن لیگ کو آج کافیصلہ تسلیم توکرناپڑےگا لیکن سیاست اپنےطریقےسےاپناراستہ متعین کرتی ہے، گاندھی جی کانگریس کےدو آنےکےممبر بھی نہیں تھے اس کے باوجود کانگریس پر ان کا سکہ چلتا تھا، نواز شریف ن لیگ کے صدر نہیں تو نگران یا سرپرست ہو سکتے ہیں، وہ کچھ بھی نہ ہوں تب بھی بہت کچھ ہو سکتے ہیں
— Mujibur Rahman Shami (@mujibshami1) February 21, 2018
#SilentCoup continues to unfold. The verdict to disqualify Nawaz as party head, thus disqualifying his candidates from contesting Senate polls, is announced today but it was known to everyone. It was Pakistan’s worst kept secret.
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 21, 2018
اس بات سے قطع نظر کہ فیصلہ درست ہے یا غلط اسکا سب سے زیادہ فائدہ نواز شریف کو ہو گا
— Umar Cheema (@UmarCheema1) February 21, 2018
A decision in favor of NS would have dented his ‘victimhood’ narrative, now it will strengthen his political position. If Nawaz is able to keep his grip on the party, this decision will favor him in the elections.
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) February 21, 2018
Mian Nawaz Sharif And Pmln remains a reality even after today court judgment ………………As PPP remains after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ….
— Iftikhar Ahmad (@jawabdeyh) February 21, 2018
Dogar Court decisions valid, Nawaz decisions invalid. Strange
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) February 21, 2018
