ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has suggested thepossibility of taking action against three judges who are presiding overthe election delay case.
The government’s move comes after the judges, led by Chief Justice Umar AtaBandial, refused to establish a full court bench despite pressure from thePakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) aligned parties.
The case involves a petition by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seekinga judicial order for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thetensions have escalated following the top court’s order on March 1 to holdelections in the two provinces within 90 days.
In a recent interview, Rana Sanaullah said that the government has not yetdecided to file a reference against the three-member bench, but it mayproceed to do so. He noted that the government has serious concerns andreservations about the judges’ impartiality, stating that they have a longrecord of giving anti-PML-N rulings. He also referred to a previous verdictthat has been criticized for its interpretation of Article 63(A), which ledto the overthrow of the PML-N government in Punjab.
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The interior minister further added that the three judges have rejected therequest to form a full court bench and have refused to acknowledge therequest from their fellow judges. He called on PTI chief Imran Khan todirectly approach Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asif Zardari, or Shehbaz Shariffor negotiations if he is serious about talks. Rana Sanaullah stated thatall the coalition leaders, including Asif Ali Zardari, unanimously agreedthat the three-member bench’s proceedings were unconstitutional and illegal.
