PML-N leaders apologise after criticism draws SC’s ire

If ruling party leaders continue to give such statements court will completely ban their media talks, says CJP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed indignation over Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders’ criticism wherein they implied that the apex court was discriminating against the ruling party.

The development came during the hearing of PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi’s plea seeking disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan by a three-judge bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar.

The apex court bench called ruling party’s leaders Daniyal Aziz and Hanif Abbasi at the rostrum and asked them to explain how the judiciary was being discriminatory in the case. However, both the leaders apologised for their criticism and regretted Tuesday’s statements before the apex court bench.



Further, the CJP warned that if PML-N leaders continue to pass such statements in future the court will completely ban their media talks regarding case proceedings.

Earlier this month, the bench had verbally warned PML-N and PTI leaders against discussing the court proceedings before media for projecting their own political views. “Sanctity of court proceedings should be maintained as it’s important for the institution,” the CJP remarked. “Judges should not be maligned through media talks of both the sides,” said another member of the bench.

Court dissatisfied over PTI counsel’s arguments

Meanwhile, the top court expressed its dissatisfaction over PTI counsel’s contentions over foreign funding case.

During the hearing, PTI counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan argued that foreign funding was an issue of the past and a closed transaction thus the matter could not be reopened. “The Election Commission of Pakistan did not object to the party’s audit report in 2010 and allotted the party’s symbol,” Khan told the apex court.



On this SC Judge Umar Ata Bandial questioned if a political party could disown its past, adding whether the same argument should be applied on the national exchequer. The SC judge went on to observe that on one side, the PTI raised objection on ECP’s jurisdiction while on the other side the party maintained that it was the accountant’s error.

“We are not satisfied with your contentions on the foreign fund issue,” the CJP told the PTI counsel. He also asked Khan whether the SC could ask the ECP to determine the issue of foreign funding.

The PTI counsel while admitting that foreign nationals contributed to the party upheld that there was a difference between foreign funding and contribution. “Contribution is unconditional and funding is conditional.”

The counsel further stated that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had also appointed a foreign agent to gather foreign funds. “Even Pakistani embassy collected funds for the PPP during the previous regime,” he argued.