by Press Trust of IndiaPML-N chief organizer Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and blamed him for the “anarchy” and “crisis” in Pakistan as he led the ruling coalition outside the Supreme Court to protest something. participated in the strike. Regarding the recent decisions, he said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan has got complete relief.
Addressing protesters outside the Supreme Court here, Maryam, daughter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, accused the top court of imposing ‘judicial martial law’ in the country.
He said that “free and fair elections are not possible as long as Umar Ata Bandial remains the top judge of the country” and that “after you (Bandial) leave office” the elections would be held at their own time.
Accompanied by Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leaders of the multi-party alliance, the 49-year-old PML-N leader said: “You all should know that anarchy [âæ] And the crisis that has gripped the country today had its origins not so much in Zaman Park as in Omar Ata Bandyal’s outpost.
“Today, when the army stands with Pakistan’s democracy and constitution… the fifth martial law in Pakistan… judicial martial law has been imposed from this building,” she said, apparently referring to some decisions of the Supreme Court.
Maryam Sharif vs Imran Khan
Maryam accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan of doing what “terrorists or enemies of Pakistan could not do”.
“He and his wife stole public money and then bought plots with this money,” Maryam Nawaz said, adding that Khan, 70, “trained” his “minions” in Zaman Park and set Jinnah House on fire .
“Elected prime ministers are sent packing and some are hanged…more [these decisions] Here is the stamp,” he said, lambasting the apex court over its failure to “bring justice to the downtrodden, bring the mighty under law and strengthen democracy”.
“But the facilitator [âæ] Sitting in this building is killing justice,” he said, referring to the top judge.
Hundreds of protesters belonging to PML-N, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) entered the red zone early in the day despite Section 144 being imposed in the federal capital. And prepared a platform in front of the Supreme Court.
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Rehman, who heads the PDM, a ruling coalition of 13 political parties, had on Friday announced a sit-in outside the Supreme Court against Chief Justice Bandyal to facilitate Khan.
Pak Chief Justice’s resignation demanded
Addressing the participants, Rahman accused Chief Justice Bandyal of violating the rules and regulations of the apex court. “I am challenging… Mr. Chief Justice, in this one month you have done wrong work of this court.”
He said: “You and your comrades are sitting on these seats… We will not allow you to insult or dishonor the nation or the Parliament.”
In the same breath, he vowed to protect the apex court building with his life, but also said that he would “not allow a single judge to harm its sanctity”. He alleged that the decisions were being fabricated and his party would allow this to happen.
He also said that all institutions should fulfill their constitutional responsibilities by working within their limits and warned the judiciary against indulging in politics.
Several other leaders of smaller political parties also addressed the gathering and accused the Chief Justice of giving undue favor to Khan.
Imran Khan’s release
The allegations followed Khan’s acquittal by a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Bandyal, which angered the government and its allies, who announced their protest against the verdict.
It was believed that the protesters would leave the venue after a symbolic protest but JUI-F, one of the largest constituents of the PDM, turned the protest into a “sit-in”.
“The Management Committee has finalized the arrangement for the sit-in outside the Supreme Court. [in] Islamabad. The management committee has started making arrangements to convert the protest into a dharna,” JUI-F tweeted.
The party also said that it will set up tents and make washrooms at the venue.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who was supposed to join the protest earlier, has been advised against it by senior members of his party. PPP leader Nisar Khoro, however, was seen standing on the dais with the PDM leadership.
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Meanwhile, Khan said that on the one hand, PDM “goons” backed by security agencies were trying to “grab” the Supreme Court and subvert the Constitution, while on the other, the government was cracking down on PTI workers with at least 7,000 The screws were tightening. Dozens of unarmed protesters were arrested and executed.
Imran Khan calls for protests
The cricketer-turned-politician, who has a massive following in Pakistan, urged all citizens to gear up for a peaceful protest, citing that it would be the end of Pakistan’s dream once the Constitution and the Supreme Court were destroyed. .
“So without any investigation as to who was responsible for the dozens of deaths of unarmed protestors in government building arson or being shot, plans to ban nearly 7000 PTI workers, the leadership and our women, the largest and only federal party in Pakistan has been imprisoned with.” Khan tweeted.
“Meanwhile, these goons are being helped by our security agencies to take over the SC and subvert the Constitution. All citizens be ready for a peaceful protest because once the Constitution and the Supreme Court are destroyed, it Pakistan’s dream is over.” He has written.
The PDM-led protest is a sign of rising tensions between the top judiciary and the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan in April 2022 after he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Khan has said that the JUI-F “drama” that is being staged outside the apex court is only for one purpose – to intimidate the Chief Justice so that he does not give a verdict as per the Constitution.