Launching a strong critique against the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to claim reserved seats in parliament, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday urged the apex court judges to enable the country’s progress.
“To the Supreme Court judges, I ask: let the country function,” Maryam stated at an event in Lahore.
She accused the apex court judges of altering the constitution to reintegrate a specific individual into mainstream politics. “Who are those people who dislike the nation’s progress and rewrite the Constitution?” she questioned.
In a significant legal victory for the PTI, the Supreme Court ruled on July 12 that the party was eligible for the allocation of reserved seats. This decision has facilitated the PTI’s return to parliament, from which it was excluded following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling in December 2023. The judgment also intensifies pressure on the coalition alliance by altering the composition of the National Assembly.
The Punjab chief minister criticized the court for providing PTI with unrequested relief. The SC judges granted PTI 15 days to submit affidavits asserting their affiliation with the party, despite previously submitted documents indicating allegiance to another party, she noted.
“We will not let this be an easy path for you. This government will complete its five-year tenure. Anyone attempting to incite political instability will be firmly dealt with,” warned the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that verdicts should align with the constitution rather than individual conscience. She referred to the individual being reintegrated as a national criminal, questioning his origins and funding sources.
The PML-N leader contended that a small group of people issued orders halting national development. She also highlighted that the law and Constitution prohibit floor crossing, while the Supreme Court’s ruling seemingly permitted it.
