SC can grant immunity to president: Sharif

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that granting immunity to any president is within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, the head of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), said that if the government had shown some respect for the apex court’s rulings and had implemented the same, the scenario would have been different today. Sharif also cautioned against aggravating a crisis that could eventually engulf all institutions and paralyse normal life.


However, he rejected any possible threat to democracy or parliament or any reason for a showdown between parliament and the judiciary.  Replying to a question, Sharif strongly criticised expressions such as “intrusion of army boots”, stressing that “being an honorable nation, we should eschew such kind of words”.  Referring to Qayyum Jatoi’s statement, he said that though imprudent, it was not exactly untrue.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2010.