Pakistan

Not respecting SC verdict have consequences: Imran

PTI chief wonders what message govt is sending to investors

Our Correspondent April 07, 2023

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE:

PTI chairman Imran Khan has warned that foreign investors may be getting a troubling message after the government's decision to not accept the Supreme Court's decision in the Punjab poll delay case.

He took to Twitter to express his concerns over the situation, warning that investors may lack confidence in a country's judicial system if the government disregards court orders. He said, "Investors need security of contracts & that means faith in judicial system. What confidence can they have when govt itself casting aside SC orders? This happens in a banana republic."

The PTI chief also claimed that the sedition cases filed against him and the imprisonment of senior party leader Ali Amin Gandapur are attempts to undermine their party's ability to contest elections.

He alleged that this was part of a "London Plan" in which Nawaz Sharif was given assurances that the PTI would be crushed before elections through fake cases and imprisonment of its leadership.

Sedition cases against me - this is 144th case against me- and our senior ldr Ali Amin along with his imprisonment, are simply attempts to undermine our Party's ability to fight elections. This is all part of London Plan in which Nawaz Sharif was given assurances that PTI would
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 7, 2023

The PTI chairman has been pushing for assembly elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces as part of a campaign to force an early general election that he has waged since being forced from office a year ago after losing a vote of confidence.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Imran Khan's call for an early general election and his government had backed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) delay in the votes in the two provinces to Oct 8.

The commission cited a lack of resources and the government agreed, saying it was not possible to organise the provincial elections while the country was struggling with an economic crisis and with a general election due around early October anyway.

But the Supreme Court ruled that the delay was illegal and voting in the two provinces should be held between April 30 and May 15.

A three-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Munib Akhtar had announced the verdict on the PTI's petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) move to postpone the Punjab Assembly polls till October 8.

The government's refusal to accept the Supreme Court's decision has raised concerns about the state of country's democracy and judicial system. It remains to be seen how this situation will be resolved and what impact it will have on the country's economy and its relations with foreign investors.