Taking serious notice of reports suggesting real and perceived threats to Supreme Court of Pakistan in general Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in particular, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on Sunday decided to join hands if the government continued "conspiracies against the country's apex court and its judges".
Reports are circulating in the federal capital that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is preparing to amend the Constitution for impeaching the chief justice. The draft of the proposed constitutional amendment is said to contain four paragraphs and four sections; sections 3 and 4 of the proposed amendment are related to the impeachment of the chief justice. Section 3 says the Senate can impeach the chief justice with a two-thirds majority.
According to sources, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif directed Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Ishaq Dar - leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, to closely monitor the situation and foil conspiracies against the judiciary.
It is also learnt that the PML-N has decided to take a tough stance if the PPP-led regime initiated any attempt to weaken the independent judiciary.
If rumours proved to be true, sources added, the party would mount a fierce resistance in the National Assembly and Senate, besides mounting a countrywide anti-government protest campaign.
PML-N's spokesperson Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that the PPP had gone "crazy after Yousuf Raza Gilani's disqualification".
"Even if there is an iota of truth in these rumours, it will be like a suicide attack by the PPP government...self destruction, shame and what not...," he added.
Reiterating his party's support for the judiciary, he said that the PML-N would not hesitate to render any sacrifice to protect the judiciary's independence. "We will not allow anybody to destroy this institution," he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) information sectary Shafqat Mehmood said that PTI would always be there to protect the Supreme Court. He said that any step against the judiciary or the Supreme Court chief justice would be "the final nail in the government's coffin".
"PTI will not let anybody hatch a conspiracy against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. We will always stand by the judiciary and the chief justice," he maintained.
It is also learnt that PTI chairman Imran Khan has started consultations with top party leadership to quickly launch an anti-government campaign in any such eventuality.
Besides, he also directed his party cadre to mobilise the lawyers' organisations across the country in this regard, sources added.
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