The Supreme Court on Friday gave a clean chit to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, disqualifying the party’s secretary general Jahangir Tareen for life under Article 62 of the Constitution– hence finally putting an end to a saga that continued for over a year.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi on Nov 2 last year filed the petition, seeking the two PTI leaders’ disqualification over non-disclosure of assets and existence of their offshore companies, as well as receiving foreign funds for their party.
As it is always the case with Twitter, the social platform exploded with all kinds of commentary, by politicians and Twitterati alike, on the verdict and the subtle or ‘not so subtle’ long-term implications that it ensued.
Politicians from all major parties of the country had a lot to say on the matter, most of which was downright interesting:
ATM out of order #TareenOUT
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 15, 2017
One relief for #houseofsharifs and one for #houseofniazi! Jumma Mubarak
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) December 15, 2017
Imran khan ka muashi plain crash
— Syeda Shehla Raza (@SyedaShehlaRaza) December 15, 2017
اللّٰہ الحق ہے pic.twitter.com/OL0K3CZQxA
— Babar Awan (@BabarAwanPK) December 15, 2017
Captain not out! Have been saying from day 1 key jab koi ghalti hi nahee ki tu na ahal kaisey ho saktey hain
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 15, 2017
Wazir e Azam Imran Khan!
— Team Sarwar (@TeamSarwar) December 15, 2017
Allegedly different parameters used 2 disqualify NS and 2 qualify IK will be debated in days to come & raise questions for for rule of law.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) December 15, 2017
As IK continues to play on, and #TareenOUT will the latter ask #MujhekyunNikala too?
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) December 15, 2017
Today’s Supreme Court decision has once again vindicated @ImranKhanPTI of all politically motivated allegations. IK’s integrity & honesty make him incorruptible and Pakistan needs a leader like this!
— Mohammad Sarwar (@ChMSarwar) December 15, 2017
The Night shall fall, to save the King!
Respect @JahangirKTareen pic.twitter.com/F5a7SbCgF8
— Salar Sultanzai (@MeFixerr) December 15, 2017
NS was not named in Panama, petitioner never demanded disqualification under Iqama, NS didn’t have any offshore company neither was director.. Technically Saqib Nisar Bench has rejected larger Bench Decision in NS Case? Am I right?
— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) December 15, 2017
Twitterati and analysts couldn’t stay behind as well. Many couldn’t help but hint towards how “happy PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi must be” because of Jehangir Tareen’s disqualification.
SC declares IK innocent – declares his statements on oath factored in, no proof of bud’neeati and he was not did obliged to make a declaration on the off shore company.
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) December 15, 2017
پی ٹی آئی والوں کو سمجھ نہیں آرہی مٹھائی کھالیں یا پھینک دیں
— Shahbaz Zahid (@shahbazzahid) December 15, 2017
SC’s dizzying spell:
Kicks out NS on a trivial charge.
Saves SS in Hudaibiya.
Rejects plea to oust IK.
Kicks out JT.Indeed, facts stranger than fiction.
— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) December 15, 2017
#SupremeCourt N League in an embarrassing paradox! While they celebrate Tareen’s disqualification, they will also have to accept SC verdict that Imran Khan is SAADIQ & AMEEN, Truthful & Honest & no malpractice has been found in his finances, unlike Mr “Mujhay kiu Nikala Sharif”
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) December 15, 2017
JKT declared disqualified for life. SMQ to gain much greater space in PTI.
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) December 15, 2017
Imran Khan ke paas Jemima thi aur Jahangir Tareen akela tha.#SupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/dIdvm46jhx
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) December 15, 2017
Happiest person right now: SMQ
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) December 15, 2017
All Insafians dilli thanking the court. But still Shah Mehmood is the most grateful.
— Fasi Zaka (@fasi_zaka) December 15, 2017
Nothing can be a bigger cause for concern for the SC than its decisions being taken as a political balancing act in a scheme of politicial engineering. The SC will have to look deep inside to revisit how ‘historic’ cases are heard and reported.
— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) December 15, 2017
And I can see the only person with truer smile right now – SMQ!
— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) December 15, 2017
SMQ laughing his way to 2018
— norbalm (@norbalm) December 15, 2017
PTI chairman is qualified; PTI’s financier disqualified. so, how does it work if the man that oils the party’s wheels is tainted? ?
— EH (@ejazhaider) December 15, 2017
Please make sure IK koi bongi na maray at the Jalsa today. #PTI
— Godfather IV (@godfatheriv) December 15, 2017
All in all, with Supreme court rejecting NAB’s plea to reopen Hudaibya case and Imran Khan escaping disqualification, today was a particularly interesting Friday for both PTI and PML-N.