PTI lauds SC judges for tolerating ‘unruly behaviour’ of ruling coalition

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the ruling alliance has “attacked the judiciary” by announcing the boycott of the Supreme Court proceedings on petition against the contentious election of Punjab chief minister.

He said this while addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Ali Zaidi late Monday.

“The entire nation will reject those who reject the court decision. I pay tribute to the judges who tolerated their [ruling party leaders] misbehaviour with patience,” he remarked.

His statement comes as the ruling coalition including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and others announced on Monday boycott of Supreme Court proceedings on Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s petition against the election of Punjab chief minister.

"The coalition government wanted to take a clear stance [on the decision]. We reject the verdict and will boycott [the proceedings]," Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman said at a joint press conference in Islamabad flanked by other ruling alliance leaders.

Also read: SC rejects govt’s petition to form full bench on Punjab CM election

Qureshi said the unity government seemed to be falling apart and the allied parties will start leaving the ruling alliance “from tonight”. “They are in a state of panic due to the fear of Imran Khan.”

The senior PTI leader asked, “Why did they [government lawyers] appear before the apex court if they had any reservations over the bench.”

“They [government] distribute sweets when the same court gives a decision in their favour.”

Taking a jibe at the PPP-led Sindh government, the former foreign minister said that the incumbent rulers had no interest in public issues. “The entire Sindh is submerged in rainwater but [Foreign Minister] Bilal Bhutto-Zardari is holding a news conference in Islamabad.”

Qureshi said the PDM is suffering from political bankruptcy and requested the judiciary to take strict action against them over their “anti-judiciary” statements.

He also reiterated that the only solution to the current political crisis is the early and transparent general elections.