Pakistan

Will take notice when 'appropriate' on Nawaz's anti-judiciary speeches: SC

'When we will decide to take notice no power in the world can force us to stop'

Hasnaat Mailk January 28, 2018

Sources blame the number of dissidents from party in assembly as the reason for the failure. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: The Supreme Court hearing of a suo motu case regarding seven-year-old Zainab’s rape and murder in Kasur took a slight detour after a question was raised regarding former premier Nawaz Sharif's recent rhetoric.

During the hearing at the SC Lahore Registry, the top court hinted that it might take notice of the former prime minister anti-judiciary speeches at an ‘appropriate’ time.

A journalist had asked why the SC was not taking notice of Sharif's speeches, to which the CJP said that there is a proper time to take action in any matter, and that any action would be taken at "the appropriate time".

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“When we will decide to take notice, no power in the world can force us to stop,” the CJP concluded.

The superior judiciary has shown judicial restraint at the unprecedented onslaught against it from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

After the restoration of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, from March 2009 to December 2013 the superior judiciary was quite sensitive to any criticism. A number of contempt notices were issued to senior politicians, journalists, and even PCO judges over the charges of scandalising and ridiculing the judiciary. During this period, criticism of the bench became a no-go area.

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Since Justice Chaudhry’s retirement, however, the superior judiciary has shown restraint by issuing significantly fewer contempt notices. In 2017, the Supreme Court has only issued such contempt notices to PML-N senator Nihal Hashmi, the owner of a media house, and one reporter.

After the issuance of the first Panama Papers verdict on April 20, the PML-N started targeting the Supreme Court bench and the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing corruption allegations against the Sharif family. This criticism intensified after the July 28 verdict disqualifying Sharif from holding public offices.

Later, Nawaz went on a rally across Punjab, wherein he severely criticised judges for disqualifying him based off a misdeclaration in his nomination papers. With the passage of time, Nawaz’s criticism on the judiciary has increased. Recently, he announced he would start a movement to improve the judicial system.