ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar Tuesday haswarned the politicians over the anti judiciary remarks.
He observed that politicians should restrain from undermining thejudiciary as its restraint should not be considered as weakness.
The Chief Justice was heading a three-member bench which heard 12 identicalpetitions filed by opposition parties including Awami Muslim League chiefSheikh Rashid and Pakistan People’s Party challenging Election Act, 2017.
The apex court also restrained litigants / parties in the case from mediatalks outside the court premises but allowed them to express their opinionin TV talk shows.
During the course of proceedings, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader RajaZafarul Haq appeared before the bench and sought ten days for filing areply as he came to know about the case last Friday.
The CJP observed that they respected the parliamentarians and expected thesame in return.
Addressing Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiqui, who was present in thecourt, the CJP said the PML-N leaders were good speakers and he (Saad)could speak in the court. The chief justice also remarked that they didnot respond to statements made outside the court.
Barrister Farogh Naseem, counsel for petitioner Sheikh Rashid, requestedthe court for stay against Election Act 2017 till the case was decided.
The chief justice, however, observed that how the court could issue a stayagainst a law that had been passed by the parliament. Seeking reply fromthe respondents, the court adjourned the case till February 6.