Following the announcement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan that his party will file a petition against the NA speaker’s ruling in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s contempt verdict, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to follow suit.
Not to be outdone by political upstart PTI, PML-N will file a petition to the Supreme Court through party MNA Khawaja Muhammad Asif, according to an official handout.
Asif made Prime Minister Gilani and the Law ministry secretary respondents in the petition.
The main points of the petition stated that the National Assembly Speaker’s ruling was tantamount to subverting the principles of democracy, equality, and the independence of the judiciary. It justifies this by stating that the speaker’s ruling “seeks to sit in judgment upon the verdict of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan”.
The petition questions whether the speaker’s ruling under Article 63 (2) of the Constitution could defeat the judgment of a seven member bench of the SC which had attained finality and whether this ruling “can flagrantly disregard the rights of all citizens”.
In addition, the petition points out that it must be determined if the speaker’s ruling was in direct contravention to the doctrine of separation of powers.
It adds that Dr Fehmida’s decision was a “complete violation of the Constitution” and demands urgent redress under Article 184 (3). The petition further argues that the fundamental right to life, guaranteed by the Constitution, is defined not merely by a physical state but the right to a fulfilling life, including the right to live in a society where the decisions of the SC are enforced.
The PML-N petition, according to the handout, questions whether the right of a fair trial also mandates a corresponding duty to abide by the verdict of a fair trial, which cannot be violated by the NA speaker.
It argues that the ruling cannot be protected under Article 69 of the Constitution “by any legal stretch of imagination”.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2012.
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@Blithe: Hey photocopier go a bit slow. Different news agencies for the last few weeks were reporting that PTI was preparing a petition in anyways to challenge PM's eligibility. PML-N has always lagged behind.
Nooraa League have been in power for 25 years in Punjab but look at the condition of schools, police, roads, vilages transport. There factories and overseas properties have grown 10 times but Punjab has suffered a lot. Instead of repairing walls and roofs of broken schools, showbas is spending our tax money on giving bribes to win students votes.
@MN: pmln responded just to win race against PTI. They are so scared of PTI. PTI wasn't quiet, they announced rally in Islamabad and later Nawaz copycat announced Jalsa in Taxila. In all Jalsas of pmln, they cricicised only PTI and very few comments against ppp. We all know pmln is expert in only two fields. One Noora Kushti and second in Copying PTI.
Campaign of PML N against PPP Government was losing steam after the visit of Turkish Prime Minister. Some analysts attributed that to mediation by the Turkish PM. PML N did'nt show any inclination for legal recourse against speaker NA ruling till the clear stance taken by PTI through announcement in its Liaqatabad rally. PML N rushed to lodge petition in an attempt to catch up with PTI on confronting the government. PML N seems to be in a fix as on one hand it wants to remain on board to amicably decide CEC, other election issues with government while on the other it desires to be seen as singular potent opposition to the very govt.
That's PMLN; no imagination, no plan, just taking other party ideas and then calling those ideas their own. Don't expect anything from NS, he is all done.
Can you solve electricity problem?
Can you solve law and order in your province?
I believe no, then why you are trying to be so great with putting a new petition in Supreme Court?
Definitely Yellow Journalism!
The news of PML-N going to court was floating in the air since long before PTI decided the same to gain political mileage!
If you remember correctly, just a couple of weeks ago, PTI's own jiyalas and media were very rightly criticizing IK on his long silence post SC's conviction of the PM. PML-N at that time had responded almost within minutes of the SC's decision... After many days, all IK had to say was that we will wait for the detailed decision of the SC... Hah!! A confused reply emerging from a selfish, egoist IK, who just wanted to say "something different" from NS. Wake-up guys, it is not a 100M race, who gets there first. Its your principles and stand that matters. It mattered then and it matters more so now... For all IK supporters come out of NS phobia, and talk your heart out and don't fake it for the sake of just "trying to be different..." IK was talking his heart out when he was unfolding truth about MQM. I personally liked his stance at that time. Now for meaningless, selfish and petty gains he is running very fast on the road of compromises, bulldozing most of the principles, he claimed he stood for. Let's see how far he runs...
this is not the first time pml n has copied pti pmln has now become habitual copy cats !!!
That's why I call it 'Noora League' . Cannot even think independently.
The issue is being challenged in court and there is no first or second. I personally feel the finding of the Speaker needs to be challenged in Supreme Court Let justice be done and let the Supreme Court decide the issue
at the end PTI will boycott the elections , to be first one who boycott
@Nisar: Where was PMLN before Khan sb. announcement?
@thomas edison: Who is copying who!?!
PTI was "strategically " quite on this issue while PML N was on the forefront.
In fact , PML N was actively asking Gilani to resign m while PTI was imfathomably asking federal opposition to resign.
Time Pass
Whats new?? they lack intellect to create original ideas as demonstrated by the yellow cab scheme
Is it good to take political matters to SC which has been turned in to "Political Akhara' ?
Amazed by the wisdom of the correspondent. As per my own novice assesment, the news of pml n going to court came hours after pti came up with this news............ i believe the news would have been that pti nd pml n have moved forward on d same issue rather, nt together ofcourse instead of giving the impression of one party towing others line of action.....................
Can't even think indepedently!
PTI is now No1 political party
First News Outlet to report the chronological version of events . The Lahore based media is really streching credulity and embarrassing them selves to day. Ittefaq money goes a long way.Good Job...
lol First News outlet to follow the chronological order of events.... Good Job
What a Copy Cat party is PML-N ! They just copy everything PTI does !
N not following PTI ,But PTI Following N decision of challenging the the speaker Rule in SCP
PML-N, always one step behind
Good news for PTI: PMLN has decided to be led by PTI on all issues prior to election.
So i was right.. PML is a follower of PTI.