Imran hails judges for ‘upholding Constitution’

PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court verdict to declare Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s contentious ruling on Punjab chief minister’s elections “illegal”, saying the judges “stood firm and upheld the Constitution and law against all manner of threats and abuse”.

He said the PTI would express gratitude to the Almighty and celebrate with the people of the country who stood with them in their campaign for “Haqeeqi Azadi” on Wednesday (today).

“I appreciate our SC judges for standing firm & upholding the Constitution & law, against all manner of threats & abuse. I want to thank (Pervaiz Elahi’s lawyer) Barrister Ali Zafar & his team,” the PTI chairman tweeted.

“I want to thank the people of Punjab for coming out in unprecedented numbers in bye elections against rigging,” he added.

 “Tomorrow evening we will offer thanks to Allah & celebrate with all the people of Pakistan who have stood by us in our campaign for Haqeeqi Azadi, coming out in massive numbers to show support.”

Addressing the media in the federal capital, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi declared the apex court’s decision as “Pakistan’s victory”.

“This (Punjab by-polls) was the people’s mandate. The people of Punjab had given a clear message that they had accepted Imran’s narrative wholeheartedly.  The imported government was imposed upon us. We reject it,” he said.

Read SC declares Hamza’s election null and void, directs Elahi to take oath tonight

Qureshi noted that the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker had violated the Constitution and did not follow the principles and demanded of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to dissolve assemblies.

“Supreme Court courageously tolerated the threats of the government. (PM) Shehbaz Sharif should not test the nation any more, dissolve the assemblies and make preparations for new elections.”

Speaking alongside Qureshi, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar observed that the nation had “truly united” and was not ready to take anyone’s “dictation”.

He congratulated Pervaiz Elahi on being named as the Punjab chief minister and the people of the country on the apex court’s verdict.

Referring to Imran’s ouster through a vote of no-confidence in April and his defying the “foreign interference”, Umar said, “Pakistan’s politics took a new turn in the last four months. More than this is that the nation stood with him (Imran).”

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry declared the apex court’s verdict a “victory of democracy”.

Senator Faisal Javed congratulated the nation, saying the Supreme Court’s decision was a victory of the country’s Constitution and its law.