PM terms SC decision over polls another judicial murder on April 4 

Referring to the “judicial murder” of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said his murder took place on April 4, 1979, and on the same date today, the unfortunate incident was repeated by the apex court.

Taking part in the National Assembly session on Tuesday, the prime minister termed Supreme Court’s decision regarding the polls in Punjab as another murder of justice. 

Equating the two decisions, the premier said today, justice was murdered and it is highly regrettable.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court has unanimously declared the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) order to delay the election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa "unconstitutional".

The PM said the entire world is well aware of the former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “A judge who delivered the decision admitted in his memoirs that the former prime minister Zulfiqar Bhutto was judicially murdered. 

He said Bhutto played a vital role in giving first constitution to the country.  “It was a historical service of Pakistan which will be remembered,” he added. 

He said in the cabinet’s meeting, the members had demanded that a reference over the judicial murder of the late prime minister, which had been pending for the last 12 years, should be taken up and decided by the full court.

He said the world knew that Bhutto's case was a "judicial murder". One of the former judges, who had decided the case, had accepted it in his memories, he added.

The prime minister also lauded the late Bhutto and said he was among the founders of the 1973 Constitution and that his historic contribution would always be remembered. He also asked the house to pray for the departed soul of Bhutto.

 The Prime Minister also called a meeting of the heads of the ruling parties tomorrow. There will be a consultation on the Supreme Court decision in the meeting, he said adding there will be a consultation on the decision of the federal cabinet and the legislation of the parliament.

Federal law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the legal team was preparing for the future course of action.

Slamming the apex court’s verdict law minister said the government wanted state intuitions to work within their constitutional ambit.

Tarar said that the government pleaded with the court that the issue should not be made a matter of ego. He maintained that the government had requested for a full court bench but their legitimate demands were rejected.

Is this verdict as per the law and the Constitution?" he asked.