Why 4-3 verdict changed to 3-2, Maryam asks SC

PML-N leader says no verdict regarding elections would be accepted before clearing ambiguity on SC poll verdict

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday raised questions over Supreme Court’s March 1 verdict on a suo motu case about the elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkwa, asking why the apex court’s “4-3 verdict was changed to 3-2”.

In a tweet from her official handle, the ruling party leader apparently referred to the SC hearing of a petition filed by the PTI against the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to delay elections in Punjab till October 8.

“Before deciding about the election, it will have to be decided why 4/3 [verdict] was changed to 3/2? What were the motives behind it and who was involved?” the PML-N leader questioned.

الیکشن کا فیصلہ کرنے سے پہلے اس بات کا فیصلہ ہو گا کہ 4/3 کو 3/2 میں کیوں بدلا گیا؟اس کے پیچھے مقاصد کیا تھے اور اس میں کون کون شامل تھا؟کیا اس اہم ترین نقطے کا احاطہ کیے بغیر،زور زبردستی سے قانون کے خلاف فیصلے کو قالین کے نیچے چھپا کر کوئی بھی فیصلہ قابل قبول ہو گا؟ ہرگز نہیں!

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 28, 2023

Her statement comes a day after two judges of the Supreme Court – Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail – issued a 27-page order, stating that the suo motu case regarding the Punjab and K-P elections date announcement was dismissed by a majority of four judges out of seven.

The two judges aimed to “revisit the power of the one-man show enjoyed by the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan” in order to “strengthen” the institution and “ensure public trust and confidence” in the apex court.

Also read: PML-N’s ‘bench fixing narrative’ vindicated: Maryam

Referring to the dissenting note of the apex court judges, Maryam further said that no decision by the apex court would by accepted forcefully before clearing the ambiguity surrounding the apex court’s March 1 verdict on Punjab and K-P polls.

On Monday, Maryam hailed the order of two judges of the apex court who questioned the unbridled powers of the top judge of the country on constituting benches, among other things, saying it was a “victory” of PML-N’s narrative about “bench fixing”.

The Sharif family scion was referring to Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail’s order through which they not only raised objections on the unfettered powers of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) on taking suo moto notice but also expressed that making benches by the CJP alone to hear cases was nothing but a “one-man show”.

“Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Mandokhail’s decision today is a victory for our narrative about bench fixing,” the PML-N leader said while presiding over a meeting of party’s spokespersons, asking “if the bench-making is not fair, how the decision can be considered fair”.