PML-N has filed a constitutional petition asking Supreme Court

[BATMAN]

Nawaz, Shahbaz file Petition in SC for returning home, contesting elections
Nawaz, Shahbaz can`t return for 3 years more, says Rashid
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?185768

ISLAMABAD: PML-N has filed a constitutional petition asking Supreme Court (SC) to issue directives to federation not to hamper return of Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and their family members to country and their participation in general elections.

This joint constitutional petition has been filed by Khawaja Asif on behalf of PML-N and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on behalf of Nawaz Sharif here in apex court Thursday under article 184(3) of the constitution.

Senior most lawyer Fakhar ud Din Ibrahim Jee will represent the petitioners in the SC. PML-N chairman, Raja Zafar ul Haq, after the filing of the petition told the journalists his party has filed a joint petition with regard to return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif to home and their participation in the elections. “I hope the petition will be decided in consonance with law and constitution”, he added.

“We have full hopes that Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Mian Nawaz Sharif will come back to country and take part in the elections”, he held.

He pointed out federation and all the four provincial chief secretaries have been made respondents in the petition. “I hope that SC will provide fundamental rights to Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and they will return to country and contest the general elections.

PML-N secretary general secretary Zafar Iqbal Jhagra said under article 15 of the constitution no Pakistani citizen can be banished or expelled from the country. Article 17 of the constitution guarantees free participation of citizens in government affairs and elections.

The PML-N has been described as petitioner No 1 and Mian Nawaz Sharif as petitioner No 2 in the application.

It is mentioned in the petition with reference to petitioner No 1 that PML-N is the largest political party of the country. It has over 4 million membership all across the country. PML-N candidates polled the highest No of votes during 1997 elections and No of successful candidates of PML-N were more than any other party.

Regarding petitioner No 2, Mian Nawaz Sharif it is mentioned that he was elected prime minister before October 12, 1999 take over by army. He was forcibly expelled from power and false cases were registered him and PML-N. Petitioner No 2 was arrested and attempts were made to register false cases of hijacking against him. On October 12 , Mian Nawaz Sharif, his family members and Mian Shahbaz Shahbaz Sharif who was chief minister of Punjab earlier were exiled from the country.

It is stated in the petition that the respondents had claimed Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family members were exiled under a deal. Therefore, the petitioner No 2 has always refuted this deal. The respondent had failed to present any documentary evidence in regard to this deal even after lapse of 7 years. The petitioner No 2 was exiled and his right to take part in general elections 2002 was done away with as physical present of candidate is must while contesting elections.

The court has been prayed that the present national and provincial assemblies are going to complete their term by November, 15, 2007 and general elections are going to take place as per schedule, therefore, Mian Nawaz Sharif be allowed to return home to contest general elections.

Deportation of Mian Shahbaz Sharif from Lahore Airport in 2004 was also criticized in the petition saying it is flagrant breach of article 15.

Meanwhile, Federal Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharf and Former President Mian Shahbaz Sharif can not come back in the country for more three years according to the agreement which they made with the Government.

Now the case is in the court and after the verdict we would see how things turn out he said this while talking to Private TV Channel on Thursday.

He confirmed that the negotiations are underway with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and such talks should be held with other political parties.

The Minister demanded Government to also hold talks with Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), as there is a short time in the next general elections.

Those who close down the door of talks in Politics suffer, Federal Railway Minister Sheik Rasheed Ahmed pointed out.

He was of the view that demand of resignation from Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is a conspiracy to create problem in the upcoming elections. He declared free, fair and transparent elections as a key to redress all confronting problem.

He categorically stated that only citizens of the country have a right to choose ruler.

 

[BATMAN]

Why they did not filed the reference any time before?
It seems before they never trusted the SC but now suddenly after the release of J.Hashmi SC has become trust worthy.
Iftikhar has politicised the judiciary and he has proved that he is biased and his sole purpose is to go gainst the present govt.
Remember he ordered the election commission to abolish the condition of NID cards for voting.
Whole world is improving there systems, where as this guy is pushing us back to the old times. A classic sign of invasion of politicians in state affairs.