“Bench-fixing a crime; parallel to match-fixing”: Maryam Nawaz

Islamabad: The leaders of the ruling coalition government are holding a joint press conference in Islamabad ahead of important Supreme Court (SC) hearing regarding Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s ruling of the Punjab Chief Minister’s election.  

At the outset of the presser, Maryam Nawaz severely criticizing Imran Khan said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s narrative was totally based on lies, adding that Khan was only a tool in completion of the international agenda to destroy the ideology of the state.

“Bench-fixing is parallel to match-fixing,” said Maryam, expressing concerns over the formation of three-member bench which is due to hear the petition on Pervez Elahi's plea challenging Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker’s ruling which called the recent re-election for the Punjab chief minister in favour of Hamza Shahbaz.  

“Suo Motu notice should be taken over it,” she said, adding that the anti-PML-N bench is being constituted for one-sided decisions.

Maryam further added, "One wrong decision blows up an entire case”. 

The PML-N leader alleged that court decisions were supporting the Khan-led party even though they were mocking the judicial system. 

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also reiterated that leaders of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) seek the ‘formation of a full bench’ to hear the plea related to Punjab CM’s election. 

 “Three people cannot decide whether the country would run on a democratic, elected, or selective system,” he said referring to the three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial—comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar. 

“They {Judicial bench members} cannot change Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution with just the stroke of a pen” he stressed.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also backed Maryam Nawaz's claims and said: " I do not expect justice from the current bench".

He further added that it's the only reason they are demanding a full bench to hear the case. 

Calling for self-accountability, Fazlur Rehman said: "Institutions should introspect their roles and overcome their drawbacks". 

Other coalition partners including Khalid Hussain Magsi of Balochistan Awami Party, Tariq Bashir Cheema of PML-Q, Aimal Wali Khan of ANP, Usama Qadri of MQM, Mohsin Dawar, Agha Hassan Baloch, Aslam Bhootani and Zain Bugti also echoed the sentiments saying the formation of a full court is important to fulfill the requirements of justice.