ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Islamabad Anjum Aqeel Khan and MNA from Rawalpindi Raja Qamarul Islam and the party’s Divisional President Malik Ibraron Saturday criticized the decision of the Supreme Court on reserved seats.

Addressing separate press conferences in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, they said the decision was apparently an attempt to re-write the constitution could lead to instability in the country.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, MNA Aqeel said: “The court gave the PTI what it had not asked for,” he said, adding, “The entire nation is bearing the brunt of the PTI’s four-year rule.”

The press conference was in reaction to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision on Friday which declared Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities, dealing a major setback to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition.

“If an MNA has joined the Sunni Ittehad Council, how can the court declare him a PTI member?” he asked.

“The people were expecting a decision that could bring stability to the country, but unfortunately, it did not happen,” remarked the PML-N MNA.

Mr Aqeel asserted the decision would not cause any trouble for the government, claiming that it would complete its five-year term.

In the garrison city, PML-N local leaders at a press conference at Rawalpindi Press Club, District Coordination Committee Chairman and MNA Raja Qamarul Islam along with PML-N Divisional President Malik Ibrar said it is felt that the focus of the judiciary is on amending the Constitution instead of interpreting the Constitution.

“The legislation is the work of the Parliament and the conduct of elections are the responsibility of the Election Commission. It is not right to interfere with the powers of the Parliament and the Election Commission,” MNA Raja Qamarul Islamsaid.He said that if a certain section of the country is happy with the decision of the Supreme Court, on the other hand, the nation is also disappointed and surprised.

He said though the PTI was not a part of the petition, it was given a big favour.

“We accepted the decision of the courts but the question still exists in presence of the parliament how can the constitution be re-written through judiciary,” he said.

“Amending the constitution is the responsibility of the Parliament, and judiciary can interpret the constitution,” he said.

He said that the limits and restrictions of the constitution are more important, a clear example of which is that even if the whole of Pakistan unites, no non-Muslim can be made the president of Pakistan, because under the Constitution, only Muslim can be made president of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2024