Never saw such mimicry of the constitution: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD– Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, declared on Wednesday that he had never witnessed such a mockery of the constitution.

The Supreme Court’s three-judge panel, which included Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, had previously directed the ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14th. Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the PML-N, spoke via video link to a gathering of the parliamentary parties of the coalition partners and claimed that the court had disregarded the majority verdict. The government had already introduced a resolution in the parliament opposing the choice, and it plans to do so again tomorrow (Thursday).

The PM went on to say that the government would release funds for the elections on Thursday as per the court’s orders. “The ECP has to present a report to the Supreme Court on April 11 and the Punjab caretaker government has to make security arrangements till April 17,” he added.

Mr Sharif reckoned the fate of the people was about to be written adding that the government would take a decision after a thorough consultation.

Earlier, the ECP had decided to hold elections in Punjab as per the SC’s order and issued a schedule for the elections too.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned Israeli police attack on Palestinian worshippers in Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

He said the brutal attack is violative of sanctity of holy month of Ramazan.

The Prime Minister said the impunity granted to Israel has emboldened Tel Aviv to violate basic human rights with abandon.