ISLAMABAD: The PML-Q said in the Supreme Court on Monday that the current political dispute should be resolved by the political leadership in accordance with the principles of democracy.

In a reply submitted to the Supreme Court on the ongoing sit-ins on Constitution Avenue, the PML-Q said it stood for the supremacy of Constitution, rule of law and democracy.

The jurisdiction conferred upon the apex court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, it said, could be exercised only where a question of public importance with reference to enforcement of any of the fundamental rights was involved.

The PML-Q said the grievance expressed by the high court bar associations in their petitions seeking to restrain the state authorities from taking any unconstitutional step does not fall within the ambit of Article 184(3).

The issues raised in the petitions were of political nature, which could only be resolved by the political leadership or parties, it said.

The party said it would be appropriate to leave the matter for the political leadership to resolve within the parameters of the Constitution and principles of democracy.

It said the current political situation and protest sit-ins cropped up against the backdrop of certain political issues and the massacre of innocent people in Lahore’s Model Town.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2014