PPP leader Faisal Raza Abidi. -File Photo

Senator Faisal Raza Abidi on Sunday hurled allegation of prejudice against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and demanded resignations from him and other judges who were reinstated but had taken an oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), DawnNews reported.

He said that his party would get rid of PCO judges and would present a bill in the parliament to reinstate the 110 judges who had been sacked earlier.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Abidi said that the chief justice should have resigned after his son, Arsalan Iftikhar, was alleged to have indulged in financial impropriety.

He alleged that Chief Justice Iftikhar had directed the Lahore High Court (LHC) to issue a stay order in a case pertaining to the 46 billion rupees of outstanding dues on different cellular companies.

Abidi said his party would “force him out the same way he had been restored as a judge.”

He said the PPP had always respected the courts, adding that, the party's ministers had appeared before the courts and even a PPP prime minister had been sacrificed.

Abidi said “a judicial martial-law has been imposed in the country.”

The senator said his party was being targeted by the court while cases against PPP’s opponents had been granted stay orders.

The PPP senator requested the government to come forward and take steps to restore the parliament's supremacy, adding that, the parliament had the authority of enacting and amending laws.

Abidi said the parliament was supreme and above other institutions. “Parliament is an institution which forms laws and constitutions. No one has the right to criticise its laws,” he said.

He said the courts should have taken action against dictators.

He alleged that Chief Justice House Islamabad had been misused for commercial purposes of Arsalan Iftikhar.

The senator showed bank account statements of Arsalan Iftikhar and raised questions about the legitimacy of his assets. He also showed that the billing address mentioned was that of the Chief Justice House in Islamabad.

Abidi said he would soon go to London to collect evidence against Arsalan Iftikhar and would call another press conference after doing so in 10 days.

Opinion

Enter the deputy PM

Enter the deputy PM

Clearly, something has changed since for this step to have been taken and there are shifts in the balance of power within.

Editorial

All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...
Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...