ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Fazlur Rehman has said his party would not accept the “engineered verdicts” given by the courts.
Speaking to PDM supporters at a sit-in outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad’s Red Zone on Monday afternoon, Fazl said all institutions should fulfill their responsibilities “within their boundaries” and warned the judiciary against indulging in politics.
Earlier, PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz called for resignation of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial. She made the demand at the PDM sit-in outside the Supreme Court and added that “free and fair elections are not possible as long as Umar Ata Bandial remains the country’s top judge”.
“The election will be held on scheduled time after you step down,” she said, referring to the CJP.
Earlier, the National Assembly adopted a motion calling for constitution of a five-member committee that would prepare and forward references against Supreme Court (SC) judges to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on “the ground of misconduct”. SJC is the body empowered to hear cases of misconduct against judges.
The motion, moved by PPP lawmaker Shazia Sobia, has been adopted by the House as apex court judges — notably Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial — face criticism by the PDM-led ruling coalition over some of their recent judgements amid a worsening political situation in Pakistan.