Bill 'favouring' Nawaz as PML-N chairman: opposition MPs pin hope on judiciary

The opposition lawmakers in National Assembly on Monday termed passage of 'Elections Bill, 2017' a well-thought-out strategy of ruling Pakistan Muslim-Nawaz (PML-N) to bring back disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as party president. Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, the opposition MPs belonging to different political parties pinned hope on the judiciary to strike down the controversial clause 203 of the bill that paved the way for Sharif to regain control over his party.
Soon after the bill sailed through the National Assembly, the PTI chairman took to Twitter and declared, "It is a black day for democracy in the country as the bill allows a disqualified person to head a political party." "Today a mockery was made of the Constitution simply to rescue Nawaz Sharif politically. But the nation will not allow the corrupt mafias to rule now," he tweeted. MNA Syed Ali Raza Abidi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) said the party has already challenged the controversial bill, which is set to become law, in Sindh High Court (SHC).
"We completely reject this bill as it is meant to save the skin of Nawaz Sharif and that's it. The MQM-P along with PTI has already challenged the bill in SHC through its counsel Barrister Faroogh Naseem. We are optimistic that the court will do justice with us," he added. Murad Saeed of PTI said that PTI has already announced to knock the door of the apex court and this law is not acceptable, adding the bill was passed in haste by the government in retaliation to the apex court's ruling in Panama Leaks case, and the PTI will definitely challenge it in the Supreme Court.
"We want rule of law in this country and if the government thinks it can influence the court through these tactics, it is mistaken as the whole nation stands by its judiciary as for the first time in country's history Sharifs had to face wrath of the law for committing corruption," he added. Sheikh Rasheed of Awami Muslim League (AML) seemed completely heartbroken and said the happiness of the ruling elite is short-lived as he would drag them to the court, adding a law which has paved the way for the thieves and convicts to form political parties is not acceptable.
Ajaz Jhakhrani of PPP said that the party opposed the bill both in the Senate and the National Assembly, as it was solely passed to bring back Nawaz Sharif, which also benefits other controversial characters who do not qualify to head a political party. "This is bizarre and we reject the bill...how a person who does not fulfill the basic perquisite for a politician can run a party. It is against the spirit of democracy," he regretted.
However, the lawmakers belonging to ruling PML-N were over the moon as they finally cleared all the hurdles for their leader to lead them from the front once again after his disqualification in Panama Leaks case that had also deprived him of heading his own faction of PML. Former Justice Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema of PML-N said that the opposition should not make an issue out of a non-issue, adding if Nawaz Sharif can become party president, what is wrong with it as he is not a convict. "What the opposition wants is that they want everything to be done on their sweet will which is not possible as the PML-N is a majority party and has passed the legislation," he added.
The activists of ruling PML-N shouted slogans against AML chief Sheikh Rasheed outside the Parliament when they saw him coming out after attending the NA session after delivering a hard-hitting speech against Sharif family. A good number of PTI activists were also present outside the Parliament which came as a blessing in disguise for lone-AML MNA Sheikh Rasheed, as PTI activists retaliated with anti-PML-N slogans. The unruly activists of PML-N also shouted slogans against Jamshed Dasti who was also rescued by PTI activists. The charged workers of PTI gave befitting response to the PML-N activists with 'Go Nawaz Go' slogans.