Shahbaz no more Punjab CM

2009-02-25 12:00:45 - Pakistan Punjab CM is dislodged from his prize post by three member judge bench of SC,the judgment two lines today made Sharif brothers' electoral eligibility case by declaring them ineligible for contesting elections in its two-line short order announced here.Shahbaz Sharif has hurriedly called a parliamentary party meeting of ML-N and all the members have been asked to make their presence in the meeting mandatory, while ML-N was seen making last ditch efforts for wooing the ML-Q on its side.

Supreme Court has disposed off Sharif brothers' electoral eligibility case by declaring them ineligible for contesting elections in its two-line short order announced here.

Shahbaz Sharif under this verdict has lost his seat in the provincial assembly and being no longer member of the Punjab House, he is no more Punjab chief minister, as SC has annulled the earlier notification about
his being chief minister.

SC three-member Bench headed by Justice Musa K. Laghari for the last eight months, in which, the Attorney General of Pakistan, Latif Khosa giving his arguments said that Punjab chief secretary and speaker were not the party in the case. Attorney General said that all the judges have taken oaths under the constitution and talking about the oath of the interim constitution was irrelevant.

Sharif brothers' lawyer, Akram Sheikh told media that the decision was as expected, as the government was giving dictation to the judges. He said that Sharif brothers were declared ineligible on the orders of President Zardari. He said that the judges would be made accountable on the Day of Judgement. Akram Shiekh said that now it was up to the people to decide if the verdict was on merit.

ML-N workers in sizable number were present on the occasion of the announcement of verdict raising slogans in favour of long march and Sharif brothers. Security arrangement remain tightened in the capital city here.
After Supreme Court's verdict of declarating Sharif brothers ineligible, Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) witnessed bearish trend on Wednesday as benchmark 100-Index shed more than 200 points to plunged down to below 5800 points.Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Pervez Rashid has said that Mian Nawaz Sharif was already aware of the Supreme Court's verdict.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Pervez said the government had offered Nawaz that if he recognised PCO judiciary, he would be declared eligible for contesting polls and Punjab government would continue, but the PML (N) rejected the offer.He said there would be no comprise over core issues of national concern and the party would continue its struggle for democracy.Media Geo news reports