By the book: ‘Nation won’t accept undemocratic decisions’

Rana Sanaullah says real power lies with people, who elected PML-N

LAHORE: The Punjab law minister has hinted that the ruling party may not accept the court’s judgment in the Panama leaks case if the verdict goes against it.

“The nation has never accepted an elected prime minister being removed through administrative or judicial systems,” Rana Sanaullah said on Saturday while addressing a press conference at the Punjab Assembly a day before the house is scheduled to meet on January 23 (tomorrow).

Responding to a query about his statement the Supreme Court was being used to trap PM Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said it had been a past practice when conspiracies were hatched to remove popular leaders.

He said the real power was with the people, who elected their leaders and decisions could not be set aside through any other way. “Whenever it is done, the nation does not accept such decisions,” he said. “Such a step was taken in 1997, but when the nation got the opportunity, it elected Nawaz Sharif for the third time despite him being sentenced to life and expelled from the country.”

Lashing out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sanaullah said the motive behind the Imran Khan-led part’s sit-ins was to undo the vote of the people through which the PML-N was brought into power.

He said a substantial debate would take place in the coming sessions in parliament and these would take the benefit of the opposition’s guidance.

He added the government would bring about changes in the Punjab Drug Amendment Act, Legal Reforms Authority Ordinance as well as some other bills in the coming legislative session.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2017.