LAHORE: PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday indirectly rapped the former judge of Supreme Court, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, saying the judge who was eyeing top slot in the apex court has resigned because there was something “fishy”.

“I was punished and ousted from power in 2017 despite being innocent. A judge who was to become chief justice of Pakistan resigned before time. It seems there was something fishy,” Mr Sharif told an election gathering in his constituency — NA-130 — in Old Anarkali area.

Last week Mr Sharif had led a rally in his constituency, but did not address the workers. Thin attendance was said to be a reason for Mr Sharif choosing not to speak on the occasion.

On Monday, Mr Sharif said the judges who had handed down punishment to him were retiring one by one. “The person (Ijazul Ahsan) who was appointed a monitoring judge on my cases to ensure that I got convicted has also resigned. See that judge has gone home and Nawaz Sharif is still here,” the elder Sharif said triumphantly.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan, the third senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, who was to become the next CJP in October this year, opted to quit earlier this month.

Earlier, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi tendered his resignation amid proceedings against him in the Supreme Judicial Council, which is led by CJP Qazi Faez Isa.

Mr Sharif said he would continue serving the nation and come up to the public’s expectations. He also pledged to bring back the “golden era” of his last tenure as premier.

“When I was in power, there was no inflation and price hike in the country. I will create employment opportunities for the youth and restore the honour of the green passport,” he said. He added that after coming into power he would ensure the country stood on its own feet.

He urged the people to vote for the PML-N in Feb 8 polls. His daughter Maryam Nawaz, who is chief organiser of the party, also spoke.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2024