The astonishing allegations by the former chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan have provided the opposition with fresh fodder to bolster its claims that the ruling party won the 2018 general elections by stealing votes.
Both houses of parliament on Monday witnessed the opposition’s outcry over the accusations raised by ex-CJ GB Rana Shamim against Former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.
In the National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif said the “revelations” had raised serious questions over the transparency of the 2018 general elections.
Asif's statement came after a story was published in a local newspaper, which stated that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz were kept in jail till the elections on the orders of Justice Saqib Nisar.
"All this controversy raises serious questions over the transparency of the elections of 2018... Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were given punishment for crimes they did not even commit," Asif said.
Quoting the report, he said that orders were given via phone not to release Nawaz and Maryam before the elections, saying that his leader and his daughters were unjustly imprisoned.
Read more: Ex-CJP rejects allegations of keeping Nawaz in jail till 2018 polls
"If the apex court of the country was itself involved in such practices then where could one expect to find justice," the PML-N leader questioned.
At this, Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed took a jibe at PML-N's supremo, asking that if the latter was really a patriot what was keeping him from returning to the country.
"If you (Nawaz) love Pakistan so much then why don't you return the looted money and return to the country," he questioned, adding that if the former prime minister was seeking a compromise then he was making a mistake.
Talking about the report, he said that whatever happened today was akin to "attacking" the judiciary, adding that whenever PML-N doesn't get court orders in their favour they deploy such tactics.
Murad said that Nawaz Sharif was declared a "liar" by the court, adding that PML-N wanted a judge like Justice Qayyum and a regime like that of General Zia.
"When they don't get what they want, then they try to hatch conspiracies against the military, they try to malign the judges and strangle the voice of the media," he added.
The minister said that both Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar were fugitives. "I ask them when would they come to Pakistan? coronavirus pandemic ended... The US left Afghanistan... now what is your excuse? Those who were in London are still there."
Demand for an inquiry commission
Meanwhile, the opposition in the upper house disrupted the proceedings by pointing out the lack of quorum and staged a token walkout in light of the allegations, forcing chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to temporarily adjourn the proceedings.
Senator Azam Nazir Tarar claimed that the allegations have yet again revealed the “sleight of hand” motives achieved through certain decisions and sentences handed out by the superior courts. He demanded that an inquiry commission should be set up to look into the matter.
Also read: IHC takes notice of accusations against former CJP Saqib Nisar
Tarar regretted that people’s fundamental right of voting to get their leaders elected was being brazenly robbed and no action was being taken. "We will take our voices to the relevant authorities," he said.
The senator recalled that former judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had also earlier made similar revelations regarding the “sway of certain state institutions” on the superior courts while they are adjudicating on certain matters.
Taking to the floor, Leader of the Opposition Yousuf Raza Gilani raised the issue of delay in holding the parliament’s joint sitting to discuss the government’s electoral reforms.
He explained that the opposition had acceded to holding talks over the matter in the country’s wider interest. However, he added, he regretted that the ruling party was handling the matter without due caution.
On the issue of pending cases in the judiciary, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senator Mushtaq, Taj Haider, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar and others said that reforms package regarding judiciary should be brought in the house.
Senator Mushtaq pointed out that over 2.1 million cases were pending in the Supreme Court and high courts, adding that the numbers of backlog cases were surging.
“Despite several perks and privileges given to judges, people were still deprived of justice,” he added.
Later, the Senate passed four resolutions including recitation of the Holy Quran, Darood Sharif at every public meeting.
The House also passed “the factories (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The bill is aimed at addressing the problems of the workers in the modern industrial era.
Besides, seven bills were also introduced in the House.
These include; “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) (Amendment) Bill, 2021”, “The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2021”, “The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021”, “The Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties (Amendment) Bill, 2021”, “The Protection of Journalist Bill, 2021”, “The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2021” and [The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Amendment of Article 37).
The House will now meet again at 11 on Tuesday (today).
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