SC rejects plea to suspend Nawaz’s

PML-N leadership
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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday vowed to

maintain the dignity of the country’s highest court. He said the limits of the apex
court’s constitutional jurisdiction would be determined, asserting that nobody can
pressurise it.

The chief justice stated this as a three-member bench headed by him resumed hearing
in the identical petitions challenging the controversial Election Act 2017 that enabled
the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to become the party head. Nine petitioners,
including PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of Awami Muslim
League (AML), PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, MNA Jamshed
Dasti, advocate Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta and Pakistan Justice Party, had moved the
Supreme Court to suspend the provision in the Election Act 2017 that enabled a
disqualified person to head a political party.

On Tuesday, PML-N leader Raja Zafrul Haq submitted before the court that they had
learnt about the case quite late on last Friday, hence they should be given at least two
weeks for preparation. A petitioner Zulfiqar Bhutta, however, requested the court to
decide the case at the earliest as these days are very critical for the country. He said a
UN team is arriving in Pakistan for investigation into the implementation of the
UNSC sanctions. At this, the chief justice forbid him to avoid saying irrelevant things
only for the sake of making news.

Meanwhile, the court rejected the plea of Barrister Farogh Nasim, counsel for Sheikh
Rasheed, seeking suspension of the specific provision that enabled the former prime
minister Nawaz Sharif to become the head of the PML-N. The CJ, however, asked the
barrister to tell the court how could a stay be granted on a legislation made by the
parliament.

The CJ said that the respondent Nawaz Sharif became the head of the party in view of
an amendment made to the law. The CJ wondered how could a person be stopped
from becoming the party president without suspending the law which had allowed him
to be elected.

During the hearing, the CJ observed that PML-N leader Kh Saad Rafique is a good
debater with good know-how of the law and they listen to him when he speaks outside
the court, but they cannot speak there. “But here after listening to Kh Saad Rafique,
we will also talk”, the CJ remarked. At this, Saad Rafique asked "here only the court
can speak but how could he?" To this, the CJ, replied that everybody could talk on
law points and within acceptable limits, and the court would listen to him. Following
this, the CJ gave a ruling that " there would be no talk about this case outside the
court." The CJ also noted that former information minister Pervez Rashid also used to
speak but he would do so politely. “We are showing restraint,” the CJ remarked but
added their restraint should not be construed as a weakness. The CJ said the court can
be requested but it cannot be pressurised. Raja Zafrul Haq is a respected
parliamentarian and he knows how we respect the parliamentarians, so they should
also maintain our respect. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court adjourned further hearing
until February 6.