Top judiciary in Maryam’s crosshairs

Punjab CM accuses SC of encouraging floor-crossing

LAHORE:

Rameez Khan

LAHORE

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who seems to be enjoying a carte blanche, on Friday launched a blistering attack on the judiciary, marking her first such salvo since assuming office.

The PML-N scion accused certain Supreme Court judges of compromising their principles, being anti-progress, and attempting to elevate the PTI to power by distorting the Constitution. She vowed to deal sternly with anyone threatening her rule, pledging an iron fist in response.

Maryam delivered her fiery remarks during the upgradation ceremony of a Model Bazaar and the launch of a Model Bazaar app—an event that, despite its modest achievements, was marked by high-profile fanfare. The celebration seemed disproportionate given the often costly nature of such occasions.

In her address, the chief minister alleged that every time the country inches toward stability, sees improvements in living standards, or experiences a drop in prices, a select group—implied to be the judges who ruled in favour of PTI’s reserved seats—intervenes to stymie progress.

Her comments were aimed at the  Supreme Court’s decision which had favoured PTI, accusing them of undermining national growth.

Despite her claims of improving living conditions and falling prices, the reality tells a different story. Over the past two years, hefty taxes and soaring utility bills have driven millions below the poverty line, making life increasingly tough for even the middle and upper-middle classes.

Maryam Nawaz defended her position by asserting that the stock market’s surge to 82,000 points was a testament to public confidence in the government, reflecting a belief in its economic policies.

However, she criticised the recent downturn in the stock market following the Supreme Court’s reserved seats decision, asking that if this was not destabilisation, what was?

Maryam also laid blame on her party’s arch-rival Imran Khan, accusing his tenure of causing economic hardship and devastating the country, chalking up the current woes to his four-year

However, despite her criticism, it is worth noting that her party, the PML-N, has been in power since 2022, with a brief interruption by a caretaker set-up—an extension of the outgoing administration.

Additionally, it was the PML-N’s decision alone to appoint the caretaker premier, as there was no significant opposition leader at the time. The then-opposition leader was essentially a placeholder, initially running as a PML-N candidate before eventually joining the party formally.

During her address, the PML-N scion contended that Nawaz had ended Pakistan’s IMF program, only for Imran Khan to rejoin it – a point often used by PML-N to emphasize their financial credentials.

However, Imran Khan initially resisted joining the IMF and faced ridicule for his stance before ultimately engaging with the programme.

During the caretaker setup in 2018, it was suggested that Pakistan should brace itself for another IMF bailout, indicating that Imran inherited the financial mess from the previous PML-N government.

Maryam Nawaz claimed that the Supreme Court handed down decisions that were not even requested, effectively rewriting the Constitution.

She accused the Supreme Court of not only encouraging floor-crossing but also pushing parliamentarians to switch parties, contradicting constitutional checks and creating a new standard by demanding fresh affidavits to suit their preferences.

Maryam criticised the former chief justice Umer Ata Bandial, alleging that decisions were being manipulated to favour one man—a defeated figure and a culprit of the entire nation.

She pointed out that the party is being encouraged to join doesn’t even exist in the assembly and expressed frustration that some people fail to see the country’s progress.

Referring to the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she lamented that despite being in power for eleven years, the region’s development has stalled at the Punjab-K-P border, leading to devastation.

Maryam chided the judges, saying that if the government is taking the country out of crisis and trying to stabilise the economy, she urges the SC to let it function.

She reminded the judiciary that the person they were trying to bring back was a culprit of the nation.

“We will not make it easy for you,” she warned. “This government will complete its five years, and if anyone tries to destabilise it, create impediments, or create instability, they will be dealt with an iron fist.”

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has already spelt out the aforesaid fear in the ruling party regarding the SC taking up the February 8 election rigging matter after the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, whom they see as an assurance of their smooth sail.

The review of the highly controversial elections holds the potential to upend this government.

She urged the people to scrutinise the decisions that come from the courts and see the reasons behind them. She said people should keep their eyes open and discern friends from foes.

She said that judges claim they make decisions according to their conscience, “but what can one do if you sell your conscience?”

“Decisions are to be taken in accordance with the constitution and law, not according to one’s conscience. The constitution and law are murdered when the conscience is compromised. She said they were responsible for the state of affairs.”

She said that women going to jail for invalid reasons also irks her, but where a woman has attacked state installations, been involved in arson, and defaced statues of martyrs, how can they be labelled as innocent, and why are they being given bail?

Not only that, they were evoking pity for them, saying that they were behind bars for two years.

However, it is worth mentioning here that the PML-N government had used all available tools to keep PTI leaders and workers behind bars without distinguishing between men and women, even at the cost of sometimes defying the court, to please the establishment.

Another exception was the state disregarding the sanctity of the four walls just to fix their political opponents. She said that can the Supreme Court judges not see that to give them relief, they have distorted the Constitution.

She said that she would speak up on these issues, and so should the people. “We cannot allow it lying down.” Saving the country is a shared responsibility.

Prior to her tirade against the judiciary, she applauded the launch of the model bazaar app that will enable women who cannot go out to shop to order anything from the comfort of their homes. She announced that the model bazaar will be replicated throughout the province.

Taking a dig at Imran Khan, who her government tried to undo with all its might, Maryam said that on her way to the model bazaar, she recalled how a person used to say he was not here to check the prices of onions, tomatoes, and potatoes.

“Whereas the majority of my time is consumed keeping the prices of these very items, among others, in check,” she said. She added that the PMLN government managed to bring down the price of roti by half, which is no small feat.

She said the Shehbaz government had to make difficult decisions owing to the circumstances they inherited this government. This was Shehbaz’s second straight term in government, so while criticizing, PML-N excludes their own two terms.

The PML-N leader they were giving the solar project final touches, under which those consuming 200 to 500 units would be given a complete solar system in five-year instalments, which would be deducted from their bills.

Those consuming less than 200 units would get it free of cost. She said five million consumers are eligible for this scheme, which would cost Rs600 to 700 billion.