Sheikh Rasheed demands ‘judicial martial law’ in the country

AML chief says a caretaker prime minister without Imran Khan's approval would not be accepted

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed has urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar to impose a 90-day-long ‘judicial martial law’ in the run-up to forthcoming general elections.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said appointing the caretaker prime minister is the actual responsibility of the chief justice as the whole nation is looking up to the judiciary in this regard, Express News reported.

“Perhaps, the CJP should impose a 90-day-long judicial martial law in the country, but, this martial law should only last till the elections,” he was quoted as saying.

Rasheed said not only Syed Khursheed Shah, the opposition leader in the National Assembly, but all heads of opposition parties  including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan must be consulted for the appointment of caretaker prime minister.



“A caretaker PM without the approval of Imran Khan would not be accepted,” he remarked.

Casting doubts over Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s recent trip to the United States, the AML chief said the nation had every right to question the visit without the foreign and military secretaries among other key staff required for such an important trip.

Taking the opportunity to once again criticise deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif over his alleged involvement in corruption and money laundering while defending himself, Rasheed said the PML-N's supreme leader was neither involved in money laundering nor was he facing the Panamagate scandal.

“I’ve been paying taxes since 1974,” he added.

Nawaz Sharif, while speaking to the media after appearing before an accountability court earlier today, had taken a jibe at Sheikh Rasheed, saying that the man who speaks about everyone’s corruption charges has been concealing property worth millions of rupees.