The former Prime Minister of Pakistan and current Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has strongly criticized Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), for making inappropriate comments against the Supreme Court bench responsible for the election delay case.
Imran Khan urged the people of Pakistan to support the Constitution and the rule of law for the nation’s welfare. This critique follows Sharif’s public disapproval of the three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, which is hearing PTI’s request for a judicial order to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
During a press conference in London on March 31, Nawaz Sharif expressed doubts about the current bench and called for a full court to hear a petition challenging the election delays in the two provinces. He also discussed his disqualification as prime minister, attributing it to the judges’ bias against PML-N.
In a video conference on Saturday, Imran Khan stated, “A convicted fugitive in London is making decisions, dictating what is acceptable and what is not, and speaking against the Supreme Court bench examining the election delay case.”
He warned that if the nation does not support the Constitution and the law, Pakistan will become an inhospitable place to live. He pointed out that all legal experts agreed that not holding elections within 90 days would be unconstitutional. He added that his opponents are waiting for his arrest or disqualification to ensure they can easily gain power.
The PTI chairman claimed that the current rulers are doing everything possible to exclude him from the process to protect their National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). He also expressed concern that elections might not be held until October and questioned the benefits of postponing them. He highlighted the economic crisis and the urgent need for political stability to boost economic growth, insisting that timely elections are crucial.
Imran Khan noted that the PML-N’s top leadership is unwilling to accept any verdict from the bench responsible for the election delay case. He said they would only accept the ruling if it were in their favor, implying that their reluctance is based on the fear of losing in Punjab and Sindh.
The former prime minister also questioned Nawaz Sharif’s attitude towards the judges, recalling the suo motu notice against himself (Khan) by CJP Justice Bandial. He explained that the same judges had ruled against PTI in the past. “The courts opening at midnight is a fact that hurts me the most,” he said.
