Islamabad: Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government demanded Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial step down as top judge after Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah’s hard-hitting note that noted suo motu on delay in holding polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab was dismissed 4-3.

In press conference, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said, “Chief Justice has now become controversial. Therefore, Chief Justice should resign.” She said that when court’s proceedings become controversial and even judges of top court refused to accept judgment then how people will accept verdict.

“Justice Minallah neither separated nor rescued himself from bench,” Marriyum said citing judge. “It is not matter of elections but an issue of “Bench fixing”, she added.

Without naming PTI Chairman Imran Khan, she said that it was not acceptable for them when Constitution breacher is facilitated by judiciary. Berating judiciary, Marriyum said that PTI leader Asad Umar was heard by court but it refused to listen to 13 other political parties.

Referring to SC’s verdict on elections in Punjab, she said, “You are interfering in powers [jurisdiction] of Parliament.” She added that Parliament will decide about elections, not Imran Khan. She said that no political party ever evades elections, but polls should be held on completion of constitutional tenure of assemblies and at same time across country and should not be susceptible to whims of any individual. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Quaid Nawaz Sharif demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to immediately resign ‘instead of bringing more disasters’. In twitter message, Nawaz Sharif said that courts usually bring nations out of crises instead of pushing them into more turmoil. He added, “I don’t know what kind of authority is used by CJP to impose minority decision on majority decision of Supreme Court.” Criticising SC verdict in election delay case, Sharif alleged that CJP should immediately resign instead of bringing more disasters to nation by backing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s agenda after disrespecting his post and Constitution.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 08 2023

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