During a broadening debate on the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding reserved seats, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the ruling, stating that the “judiciary is only responsible for the interpretation of law, not legislation.”
In an interview, Asif emphasized that “court decisions should not be political” while commenting on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) reserved seats case. He added that verdicts should align with the Constitution and the law.
Asif condemned the apex court’s July 12 decision, which declared the former ruling party, PTI, eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities in the assemblies. This ruling marked a significant legal victory for the Imran Khan-founded party and a setback for the current rulers. The court ruled that PTI, which won general seats in the national and provincial assemblies in the February 8 elections, is entitled to reserved seats.
The Supreme Court, by a majority of 8-5, overturned the Peshawar High Court’s March 25 judgement and declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) March 1 order as unconstitutional, without lawful authority, and of no legal effect.
Asif argued that judges should avoid making “political remarks” during case hearings and claimed that numerous political verdicts have been issued by the judiciary. He warned that the verdict on reserved seats could lead to a constitutional crisis. He stressed that politicians, the judiciary, the media, and the bureaucracy all have a role in ensuring the country’s stability.
Asif called on the judiciary to “restore its image,” noting that its conflicting decisions are widely discussed. He also suggested that wrong verdicts should be subject to contempt of court under Article 209.
Regarding an attack on the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt by Afghan nationals, Asif condemned the incident, stating, “Afghans are ungrateful.” He questioned whether Pakistan should continue to host nearly 5 million Afghan nationals after the incident, noting that Pakistan fought a war for them against the Soviet Union. He expressed concern over increasing abuses, statements against Pakistan’s integrity, and protests from Afghanistan.
The attack on the consulate involved Afghan citizens vandalizing and attacking the building, pelting stones, and removing the Pakistani flag. The Pakistani government strongly condemned the incident, and the Foreign Office criticized the German authorities’ failure to protect the consulate’s premises. Pakistan urged Germany to arrest and prosecute those involved and to address the security lapses.
The federal government announced that any Pakistani nationals involved in the incident could face severe consequences, including the blockage of their ID cards and passports.
