Our Correspondent Dera Ghazi Khan/ Lahore
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday, expressing disappointment over the Supreme Court verdict on the deputy speaker’s ruling, said that he was hurt by the decision of the apex court, and he always respects the judiciary but his movement is to bring justice
Addressing a rally in Dera Ghazi Khan ahead of July 17 Punjab by-elections, Imran Khan said that the US undersecretary threatens that if Imran is not ousted then there will be problems, adding that he asks the judiciary what could be a bigger insult to 220 million people than this.
He further said that the letter was placed before the Cabinet and the National Security Council, Parliament, the Speaker sent the cipher to the Chief Justice, and the President sent the letter to the Chief Justice for inquiry.
Calling out the Supreme Court, PTI Chairman said that when President Arif Alvi sent the letter to the Chief Justice why he did not investigate the matter.
“If we do not conduct an inquiry, then none of our future prime ministers will be able to stand in front of America. Do you think that Shehbaz Sharif will stand in front of America? America needs a Prime Minister like him. Shahbaz Sharif has already fallen to his knees before the US,” Imran said.
The PTI chairman said that when he heared the apex court decision, it hurted him a lot. Apart from criticising the SC’s ruling, Khan castigated Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, saying that the nation “would not forgive him” for supporting the incumbent government. He said that the CEC’s spokesperson has him to back his allegations against Raja. “Why should I respond? You are answerable before me.” The PTI chairman alleged that he has evidence of the CEC’s meetings with Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz.
“Chief Election commissioner, why are you taking your team to Lahore? Remember, the nation will not forgive you.”
Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, addressing a press conference in Lahore, said that the apex court had given good decisions in the past but termed the judgement on Suri’s ruling to be “full of contradictions”.
He demanded an investigation into the cypher and said that after an “elected assembly” was instituted, the judgment would be presented and eventually quashed.
He termed the current legislative body as an “occupied parliament” that lacked representation from “Pakistan’s biggest political party”. “But when an elected assembly comes, and the PTI comes [to power] with a two-thirds majority, we will get this judgment quashed by the assembly. This judgment will be presented in parliament and it will be decided whether Article 6 (which pertains to treason) applies to a violation of Article 69,” Chaudhry said.
Article 69 of the Constitution states that courts are not to inquire into proceedings of parliament.
He urged the judges to practice caution and respect the mandate of “Pakistan’s biggest political power” and to let “political decisions be taken in the political arena”.
Commenting on Justice Mazahar Alam Khan Miankhel’s additional note, he said: “I want to tell the judge that if you start [punishing] people under Article 6, there will be a shortage of rope. There are too many necks [to hang].
“It is not your job to instill acrimony in political matters unless you are on a mission to do so,” Chaudhry commented.
