Maryam takes SC judges to task over reserved seats ruling

LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday said, “I would like to ask the SC judges to let the country function.”

Addressing an event in Lahore, she said the Constitution was rewritten to bring one person back to the mainstream politics.

In a major legal victory for the PTI, the Supreme Court on July 12 ruled that the party was eligible for the allocation of reserved seats.

The decision has not only paved the way for the PTI’s return to the parliament, which was kicked out of the February 8 polls owing to the ECP’s December 2023 ruling, but has also increased the pressure on the coalition alliance as the judgement will change the composition of the National Assembly.

The Punjab chief minister said the the PTI was given a relief that it did not even seek.

MNAs were given 15 days to submit their affidavits claiming their affiliation with the PTI, despite the fact that they had already submitted documents affirming allegiance with another party, she said.

“This government will complete its five years’ tenure. If anyone tries to create political instability, they will be dealt with iron hands,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader warned.

“No one knew from where he (Imran Khan) was launched and from where he was sourcing funds,” she maintained.

The Punjab chief minister said a group of a few people gave such orders which halted the process of development. She also said that the law and Constitution did not allow floor crossing, while the ruling allowed it.

Meanwhile, major coalition party in the government the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), in a consultative meeting with the PMLN, agreed to discuss the government’s plan to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the party level and sought a time from the government for consultations.

An important meeting of the PMLN and PPP was held in the President’s House on Friday in which the issue government’s plan of banning PTI, initiate proceedings of Article 6 against PTI founder chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, former president Dr Arif Alvi and former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri, and reserved seats were discussed.

The meeting was attended by PPP Senator Farooq H Naik, Senator Sherry Rehman while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Irfan Qadir and Ahmed Cheema represented the PMLN. Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan also attended the meeting.

According to the sources, the meeting between the major allies in the government continued for about one and a half hours. The PMLN legal team took the PPP into confidence regarding banning the PTI. Sources said the law minister and the attorney general discussed the legal points of the government’s decision to ban the PTI, while the PPP legal team expressed concern about the effects of the decisions in the future.

However, both the parties agreed to continue talks.

Source said the PPP would inform the PMLN about its final decision after consulting the party leadership, while the PPP Central Executive Committee would take the final decision.

Sources said the PPP delegation advised the government to take decisions considering the future situation.

The PPP leaders took the stand that it was not appropriate to make announcements without informing them about their stance on the issue which was subject to party consultation and consensus.

According to the sources, it was discussed that the PTI attitude was not democratic, and if the PTI calls itself a political party, then its attitude should be like a political party.

According to the sources, the PPP supported the government on filing an appeal in the Supreme Court on its decision on reserved seats, while the issue of banning the PTI was agreed to be considered at the party level first and it would be taken by the Parliament and cabinet.

The sources said the PPP leaders during the meeting said the PPP was a democratic party and being a coalition partner of the federal government it would stand by every constitutional and legal decision.