Pak Defence Minister Asif hits out at SC, demands accountability for 'illegal' actions

Widening rift between Pakistan's incumbent government and Supreme Court, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif demanded on Sunday that apex institution must be held accountable for all unlawful and "unconstitutional" acts it has committed in past seven deces. 

Speaking to reporters in London, United Kingdom, minister said: “All unconstitutional and illegal actions taken in past 75 years, especially by judiciary, should be held accountable.” He me statement in response to a question about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif who has been living in English capital since 2019 on grounds of medical issues. 

Sharif, former prime minister of Pakistan, stepped down from top post after he was disqualified from holding public office by Supreme Court in a ruling on Panama Papers case. He was disqualified after a five-member bench chaired by n-chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar unanimously voted on decision, citing his failure to reveal his non-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from UAE-based Capital FZE in his nomination papers for 2013 polls. erstwhile PM's actions were deemed as "not honest and truthful" by court, Geo News reported.

Khawaja Asif provides 'best solution' to tussle 

Asif also said during conversation with reporters on Sunday that he was in London to meet PML-N supremo. When asked about bold dress he delivered in National Assembly on May 2, he said that he felt it was his responsibility to defend parliament.

“ best solution to crisis is that all institutions should work within ambit of Constitution,” minister said. Lately, Pakistan's legislature and judiciary have locked horns after latter said that Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to delay Punjab Assembly elections was unconstitutional. It n announced May 14 as revised date.

Meanwhile, in Karachi, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) emerged victorious in six out of 11 Union Councils (UCs) in local government (LG) bypolls as Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) secured four seats. In UC-2 Bihar Colony, PPP’s Abdul Qir won after getting 3,243 votes. On or hand, UC-2 Korangi saw party's Muhamm Israr Khan receiving 2,647 votes.