- Imran says four-time disqualification is record in itself
- Bilawal says PML-N, PTI ‘judicialised’ politics, should face consequences
- Khursheed, Qureshi say Nawaz has fallen victim to his own trap
Two of Pakistan’s main opposition parties — the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — have endorsed support for the Supreme Court’s verdict imposing a lifetime ban on politicians disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution “for being honest”.
The SC, on Friday, disqualified for life all politicians convicted of being dishonest in their declarations submitted in their election nomination forms. The verdict has directly hit deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former secretary general of the PTI, Jahangir Khan Tareen, rendering them ineligible to hold public or party offices.
Hailing the Supreme Court (SC) verdict, PTI chief Imran Khan said the SC decisions are paving way for a ‘new Pakistan’. He said Nawaz has been disqualified for the fourth time, which is a record in itself.
Addressing party workers in Wazirabad, he said the country will not move forward until corruption is eliminated. The PTI chief said that the court took the matter in its hand after most of the institutions ‘failed’ to perform their duties and added that Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif is next in line for disqualification.
Imran claimed that Khawaja Asif used to earn Rs1.6 million every month. He also announced a ‘historic’ rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.
Commenting on the SC verdict, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the fate of politicians should be decided by the people of Pakistan.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Bilawal stated, “I am of the belief that it’s the people of Pakistan who should make such decisions about the fate of politicians. Unfortunately, it is PTI and PML-N themselves who have forced the judicialisation of our politics. Naehal Nawaz and Tareen must now face the consequences of their actions.”
I am of the belief that it’s the people of Pakistan who should make such decisions about the fate of politicians. Unfortunately it is PTI & PMLN themselves who have forced the judicialization of our politics. Naehal Nawaz & Tareen must now face the consequences of their actions.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 13, 2018
Similarly, National Assembly (NA) Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said that the SC’s decision was per constitution and everyone should accept it.
He added that Nawaz Sharif has been trapped in Article 62(1)(f) which he supported the most and that there should be no arguments on the decision anymore.
Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed also supported the SC decision.
He said that politics of the Sharif family has ended before the general elections, adding that the PML-N would not be able to woo voters in the upcoming elections as the public had rejected them.
While speaking to the media after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that political parties do not rotate around personalities and that Nawaz Sharif should learn a lesson from his past mistakes.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said that the top court’s larger bench has jointly explained the constitution’s important article.
Qadri went on to say that the judgement has closed the doors of the parliament for dishonest people.
“The decision would prove a milestone to promote the culture of transparency,” he said and added there was no comparison between the cases of late former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and corrupt Nawaz Sharif.
The PAT chief said that finally the corrupt and disqualified people have met their logical end.