LAHORE: The PML-N has taken exception to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government’s move of filing a reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the alleged misconduct of three superior court judges, saying it will strongly “resist this attempt to weaken the guardians of the Constitution” at every forum, including the parliament.

PML-N vice-president and former premier Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz has termed this action a “terror attack” on the country’s judiciary by the Imran Khan government.

“Filing references against three judges of superior court in SJC is another dictatorial step of this fake government. The saga of crushing the voice of judges had begun with removal of a judge of the Islamabad High Court and now it has scaled new heights,” she said.

In a series of tweets, Maryam said: “The government is removing the judges one by one who follow the Constitution and do not submit to its will. The incompetent government of Imran Khan is responsible for defaming the state institutions. This inept prime minister has caused unbearable loss to every institution and put the country in danger.”

She said her party would strongly resist the “fake government’s” conspiracy against the judges having good repute.

“We urge lawyers, civil society, media persons and political parties to play their role like they did when dictator Musharraf had taken a similar step,” she said.

Meanwhile, former foreign minister and PML-N senior leader Khawaja Asif tweeted: “References by the government against members of superior judiciary are an attempt to weaken the guardians of the Constitution. Independent judiciary guarantees rule of law & PMLN will resist any attempt to curtail its independence.”

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PTI was trying to impose its will on the judiciary and violate the judicial process. “PM Khan does not have the courage or the decency to respect disagreement or dissent whether it comes from the floor of the parliament, the media or the court of law,” she said.

The former information minister said the PML-N would resist this “attack on the judiciary” in every way and at every forum. “PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif fought for the supremacy of the judiciary under the most challenging circumstances and led the movement on the road which God Almighty blessed with victory.”

She said the parliament was the mother of all institutions and it knew very well how to guard its constitutional status against “self-serving, agenda-driven” individuals and groups.

“The PML-N will not hold back anything for the protection, strengthening and sanctity of all constitutional institutions.”

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2019