PML-N will eventually have to bow down to top court: Khurshid Shah

PPP leader says ruling party's refusal to accept SC's Panamagate case ruling will not earn it anything

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will gain nothing from refusing [to accept the Panamagate case verdict] and have to accept the top court's decision, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Khurshid Shah said on Saturday.

"It's up to the voters in the NA-120 constituency which candidate they decide to opt for; I cannot read a voter's mind," the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly told reporters in Sukkur on Saturday when asked about his party's chances of winning the by-poll, Express News reported.

The Supreme Court had ousted Nawaz from his post in a landmark judgment on July 28 over concealment of assets, in the backdrop of Panama Papers leaks.



"In politics, there are no foes or friends and every party reserves the right to have their member chosen as the opposition leader," Shah maintained.

He added that it was good to see that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had settled their differences.

On the tenure of the elected assemblies, he said the PPP had agreed to a four-year tenure and so had the PML-N.

To a question, the opposition leader said the name of the new graft watchdog had not been finalised, though talks with the heads of political parties on the issue had taken place.

On the Election Commission of Pakistan summoning PTI chief Imran Khan, Shah said the polls supervisory body was a constitutional institution and refusing to accept its directives was tantamount to contempt.

"Imran was often quoted as saying that Nawaz doesn't comply with the directives of national institutions, and now he, himself, isn't abiding by their decisions," he added.