Moments after the Supreme Court in a historic verdict ruled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been disqualified for life, State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said the verdict is the same as Nawaz’s trial court case.
“This decision is similar to Supreme Court rulings which took former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the gallows and led to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto,” the information minister said while addressing the media in Islamabad on Friday.
Marriyum stated that time and again, democratically elected leaders of Pakistan are unceremoniously removed from their post. "All 17 prime ministers of Pakistan have faced a similar fate."
“Today’s decision is the same as Nawaz’s trial court case,” she added maintaining that a decision has been made on a trial which is still under way.
She said, "Decisions against Nawaz are made first and trials are conducted later."
"The verdict has started a phase of Nawaz's politics which our enemies should be afraid of," the information minister added.
Claiming that not a “single rupee’s corruption has been proven against the former premier”, the information minister said, “The case on which Nawaz has been disqualified for life is still under way as is the case which disqualified him from his premiership.”
“The NAB court trial is incomplete and Wajid Zia has also said there is no documental evidence to show that Nawaz took money from his son’s company,” she said.
“Nawaz was first disqualified as prime minister, then removed as head of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), his party was barred from participating in Senate elections and now they have ruled against him from holding a public office for life,” the minister said.
Reiterating that the PML-N quaid is still facing trials, Marriyum said, “The premier was elected through the votes of the people and the decision regarding his disqualification also lies with the people.”
Responding to a question, she further said, “We all respect Pakistan’s constitutional institutions and respecting the Supreme Court is necessary for us all.”
The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that lawmakers disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution will be unable to contest elections for the rest of their life.
Justice Umar Ata Bandiyal read out the verdict, which seals the political fate of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Jahangir Tareen and other lawmakers disqualified under the said article.
The court has ruled that the disqualification will hold until the court declaration disqualifying the lawmaker stands.
Moreover, the judges unanimously ruled that the Constitution states that those not 'honest' and 'truthful' as per law are banned from Parliament for life.
