Petition in Pakistan Court seeks Disqualification of PM Imran Khan

A petition has been filed in a Pakistani court seeking disqualification of PM Imran Khan for his “anti-judiciary” remarks on the departure of his political rival & former premier Nawaz Sharif to London for treatment.

Tahir Maqsood, a Pakistani citizen, filed the petition in the Lahore HC on Saturday, seeking contempt of court proceedings against Mr. Khan for bringing the judiciary into disrepute.

Mr. Khan recently criticised the Lahore HC for overruling his govt’s condition for 69-year-old Sharif to submit a ₹700 crore indemnity bond for permission to fly abroad for treatment, & asked Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa & his successor to “restore the public’s trust in the judiciary.”

His remarks didn't go down well with the chief justice, who said the PM should refrain from issuing such statements as he is the chief executive of the govt.

“Don't taunt us regarding the powerful,” the chief justice said, adding that everyone is equal before the law.

“I don't want to comment on the particular case of Nawaz Sharif, which the PM had referred to but he (the PM) will be aware that he himself gave Nawaz permission to go abroad. The premier should refrain from making such statements...Don’t compare us with the judiciary which had existed before 2009,” Mr. Khosa said.

The petitioner has said the PM criticised senior judges of the Top Court which amounts to contempt of court.

He said the Top Court in 2013 had already issued a contempt notice to Mr. Khan for his anti-judiciary rants.

Referring to conviction of PML-N leaders Talal Chaudhry & Nehal Hashmi by the Top Court for their anti-judiciary speeches, the petitioner requested the court to summon Mr. Khan in person, disqualify him & order the Election Commission to de-notify him as member of the National Assembly.

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