Nawaz disqualification case: SC summons text of PM's speech

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned the text of the prime minister's August 29 speech in Parliament, saying any words uttered in the House comprised public property and should be available to the people.

A three judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, has been hearing identical petitions — filed by former MNA and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Gohar Sindhu Advocate — calling for the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif from holding a seat in the National Assembly.

The petitioners have requested the court to disqualify Nawaz under Article 62 (f) of the Constitution, claiming he gave a false statement during a joint sitting of the Parliament over the role of the army in negotiations with PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to end their sit-ins.

Khakwani and Shujaat had said that the prime minister told the House on Aug 29 that he had asked Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to act as a mediator and guarantor between the government and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for ending the impasse.

Also read: In the midst of crisis, Parliament speaks with one voice

During today's hearing, Sindhu said the prime minister continued to stand by his statement, adding that not only the premier, but also the interior minister had issued false statements on the matter. He further said that the government had approached the army chief to act as a negotiator and a guarantor in order to deal with the sit-ins led by PTI and PAT.

Responding to Justice Khawaja's question as to whether the petitioners could not obtain a record of the prime minister's speech from the day in question, Sindhu said he had filed a request for the text but so far it had not been granted.

Justice Khawaja said text of the prime minister's speech on the floor of the House was public property. He however said that the Supreme Court's research staff had also not been able to obtain the text when it approached governmental channels.

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Comments (29) Closed

Anil Khan

Oct 15, 2014 11:14am

How can one assume that the statement of PM is false and not the Army? I dont think courts should be involved in controversy as to which statement is correct and which is not as it will open pandora box as politicians everywhere in the world do exagerate and conveniently omit some of the facts. Furthermore acceptance of such petitions also leads to political insecurity which is sufficient to deter foreign investment.

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vaqas

Oct 15, 2014 11:23am

Should the government not be penalized for delaying justice to its public?

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Atam Vetta

Oct 15, 2014 12:23pm

SC is entitled to request a copy of the PM's speech as, indeed, is any Pak citizen. I am, however, concerned at the dangers of Pak judges crossing the demarcation line between the rights and duties of Courts and the Parliament. For example, it was reported that a Pak High Court has asked for the details of the expenses of the PM's visit to the UNGA. This is the prerogative of the Parliament and in no other Democracy will a Court request for it unless a case of corruption is made out. Similarly, a speech of an MP in the Parliament is no business of the SC and it should not allow itself to be cowed down by any one including IK, to scrutinise it. Judges should remember that their authority comes from the Parliament that is Supreme in a democracy.

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Parvez

Oct 15, 2014 12:34pm

The SC has again failed by taking so long in giving a decision.......gives the impression that they are awaiting a signal from somewhere.

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ishrat salim

Oct 15, 2014 12:49pm

If the PML N govt continue to ignore such request, it will surely be contempt of court.....let us see how SC acts on this issue.

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Patriot

Oct 15, 2014 02:08pm

Why do i have the feeling that this case will be dragged till "third force" intervention or tenure completion i.e. whichever comes first?

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MAlvi

Oct 15, 2014 02:11pm

PML N, and for that matter PPP, are guilty of delay tactics whenever they think they violated the law. We all remember how PPP has been behaving in obeying the SC orders.

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Fomi

Oct 15, 2014 02:52pm

Whatever proceeding is being carried out, it must be timely.

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raza

Oct 15, 2014 03:01pm

What a waste of time. I am sure there are many more important issues the SC should attend.

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Masoud

Oct 15, 2014 03:24pm

Anyone who is trying to protect Nawaz Sharif & his PM post should understand well that the game is over. ISPR 's public statement regarding Nawaz Sharif's request to the COAS to intervene in the political & dharna deadlock sufficiently proves the lies by Nawaz Sharif on the floor of the parliament. As per the constitution of Pakistan any person found to be lair & dishonest cannot continue as PM of the country.

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AJamal

Oct 15, 2014 03:50pm

Supreme Court should rather focus on providing justice to the poor.

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Furqan

Oct 15, 2014 04:00pm

@AJamal This is justice to the poor. most of Pakistan is poor. this case will mostly affect the poor of this country. I request judiciary to speed up and try to solve cases quickly.

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Maarium

Oct 15, 2014 04:05pm

I am watching nawaz sharif speak to flood victims in Bahawalpur as I write this.. he's talking about Imran khan and his dharna.. I am disgusted that he went to speak to people who have no shelter or food and he's talking about his politics and saving his government. Does he really think they care who did what to his governmebt!! Disgusted and appalled but his selfishness.

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Maarium

Oct 15, 2014 04:08pm

His passive aggressive comments towards imran khan are immature. As a prime minister of the country he should learn how to refrain from these comments and learn how to speak.

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Mariam

Oct 15, 2014 04:14pm

Why only focus on this? There are so many reasons for which he should be disqualified.

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Ijaz

Oct 15, 2014 04:28pm

It is not the business of the courts to get involved in political tittle tattle of the political parties.

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samar

Oct 15, 2014 06:18pm

Disqualification over a speech this can only happen in pak

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Jawad

Oct 15, 2014 06:47pm

@samar It's not a simple speech matter. According to PPP and PMLN speeches Parliment is sacred and PM while under oath in his speech potentially claimed something that army denied --- a lie ---- is a base for impeachment in any country. Remember Clinton. It was not that he had an affair--- it was that he lied about it -- got him.

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Jawad

Oct 15, 2014 06:59pm

@samar And---- in any other democracy like United States of America or England -- PM would have been impeached by now. The PM of a country caught lying in the parliament under oath--- ( what ever it may be ) -- is not a small thing. And if he didn't lie then he should come out clean by saying that army is lying. And prove it. May be once again under oath. Lol.

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optimist

Oct 15, 2014 08:33pm

Government will get stay order and continue to get it for three years by the same court. ISPR statement was later acknowleged by Choudhry Nisar so ISPR statement cannot be false.

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jamal

Oct 15, 2014 08:36pm

I believe history would be a testament to the ill fated condition of our country. .and we will never forgive people who are responsible to provide justice to us...O God. .help us get rid of this mess

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AJamal

Oct 15, 2014 10:49pm

@Furqan. This is wastage of judicial resources. These are frivolous cases as in the past in the form of memogate.

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Haider Jalal

Oct 16, 2014 12:52am

@Atam Vetta i respect your comment and it is logical answer and justification that our RULERS are above law, thanks for making it simple and easy to understand

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Harmony

Oct 16, 2014 01:45am

@Anil Khan - Politicians lie habitually to fool people to get votes. Army has to follow certain protocol before issuing any statement against the government or else such lie would result in court-martial. Here the 'PM' didn't give a toss to the sanctity of the Parliament and lied as though he in election campaign. He is no longer 'Sadiq & Amin'.

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Naseer

Oct 16, 2014 09:08am

Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif were never Saadiq & Ameen. In fact there is a tough contest between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari as to who has plundered the most wealth from the people of Pakistan and who is most corrupt.

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Moazam

Oct 16, 2014 09:19am

Why would Imran Khan and Tahir Ul Qadri have ever sought a meeting with the Army Chief If it wasn't for the Prime Minister's blessing? All 3 have said it was at the behest of Nawaz Sharif, that he told the COAS to step in to end the impasse. And shortly after these meetings took place the PM also ordered the police to use violence on unarmed protestors. Despite all these facts then, Nawaz Sharif lied to the nation when he denied ever asking Raheel Sharif to step in to diffuse the situation. He lied to the nation and tarnished the reputation of the Army by telling them to step to clean up his own mess only to point blank lie and deny that he ever did so. How can the nation trust such a liar? If there was a thing called justice in Pakistan, the Supreme Court would remove him from office for gross misconduct.

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malick

Oct 16, 2014 10:27am

SC while asking the full text of PM speech, SC must call the COAS or ISPR to testify the statement on oath. COAS or ISPR should voluntarily attend the Court for reason of justice, for reason of Pakistan and for reason of Pakistan awam. I am sure if SC calls COAS or ISPR , happily the will come and do the need full of Supreme Court. This is not small matter.

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Goga Nalaik

Oct 16, 2014 12:02pm

If the verdict of Asghar Khan case comes out, Nawaz Shareef will have to resign immediately as per the constitution... For unknown reasons, our supreme court is not willing to make it public... biased judiciary!!!

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Syed Ahmed

Oct 16, 2014 04:33pm

@Anil Khan: NS is a proven liar.

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