Preaching the law: Nawaz warns govt against undermining court orders

Says his party will ensure the govt is held accountable.

LAHORE:

Chief of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif warned the government on Saturday against defying or ridiculing any of the Supreme Court’s decisions.

Nawaz was speaking to the media after his visit to Jamat-e-Islami General Secretary Liaquat Baloch’s residence where he went to offer prayers for Baloch’s departed mother.

Expressing dissatisfaction over how the government was conducting itself regarding the court’s rulings, Nawaz alleged that the government was trying to devise plans to avoid abiding by the court’s decisions, and was, trying to defame and degrade the judiciary. He said that the ‘defiant’ attitude would not be tolerated by the PML-N, or the country’s people.

There are a number of cases pending against the prime minister, including contempt of court charges. The prime minister was asked by the court to write a letter to Swiss authorities earlier, but he has refused to do so.

“We will support the court’s decision and voice our concerns both in parliament and outside. No one should be in doubt about the opposition’s role. We will come out on the streets if we have to, but will make the government accountable for its actions,” Nawaz said.

He said the coalition partners were equally responsible for any action of the government. He said if the coalition partners quit, the government will collapse the very next day.

Showing support for protests over load shedding, Nawaz said it was the right of the people to take to the streets over the energy crisis. He claimed that his own residence is often deprived of electricity with lengthy power outages.

Delivering harsh blows of criticism, Nawaz said defiance of the court and corruption had come to sum up the government’s tenure.

Replying to a query about his relationship with President Zardari, Nawaz said the president had backed out from all commitments made to the PML-N and even sidelined the Punjab government by introducing the rule of a governor.

Sources in the PML-N say the party might initiate a movement against the government’s stance towards court rulings, corruption and the energy crisis. To a query about PML-N’s views over the recommendations of the parliamentary committee regarding national security, Nawaz said he has called a formal meeting at Raiwind today (on Sunday) where the party would devise a strategy.

JI’s Liaquat Baloch said they have called for an All Pakistan Conference (APC) on Balochistan and criticised the government for letting the Difa-e-Pakistan Council hold a rally in the restive province.

Nawaz seconded Baloch’s opinion, adding that those who had lauded former president Pervez Musharraf’s step of killing Akbar Bugti were now realising its real implications.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2012.