Bilawal raises alarm over martial law threat in Pakistan

Larkana: Foreign Minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday expressed concern about the potential for a deepening constitutional crisis if a larger bench is not constituted to hear the case regarding the postponement of the Punjab elections.

Bhutto warned that if the matter is not resolved, it could lead to martial law in the country.

During a press conference in Larkana, Bhutto urged the judiciary to ask three judges about the situation with the elections. He noted that the criticism of the higher judiciary by the judges is a historical matter, and fellow judges have also expressed a lack of confidence in the three-member bench that is hearing the case.

Bhutto called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to form a larger bench, in accordance with the Constitution. He also urged that judges who were caught consulting with the opposition, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), should not be part of the bench.

Bhutto expressed his fear that if a larger bench is not formed, a constitutional crisis could occur, leading to martial law in the country. He reminded everyone that a nine-member bench has been reduced to just three judges, adding that the nation will remember the Chief Justice if a larger bench is not formed.

Bhutto also took the opportunity to criticize Imran Khan, stating that the PTI chairman was the chief polling agent of former dictator General Pervez Musharraf. He accused Khan of releasing terrorists from jail, which he claimed led to the current wave of terrorism in the country. However, Bhutto pledged that the government will confront the terrorists and defeat them.

It is worth noting that the coalition parties have expressed their lack of confidence in the three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which is hearing the PTI's petition against the delay in the Punjab Assembly elections. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The coalition parties expressed their lack of confidence in the Supreme Court bench, which consists of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar. The meeting was called after the Supreme Court rejected the ruling alliance's plea for a full court bench in the election delay case. The apex court witnessed high drama as two judges recused themselves from the remaining three-member bench.