PML-N has history of maligning judges: PM Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has termed the alleged audio leak of former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar an attack on the judiciary by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

During a meeting with party spokespersons, the prime minister discussed various issues, including the recent audio leak of ex-CJP Nisar, price hike, and the recently enacted electoral reforms laws.

According to sources, the prime minister directed PTI’s spokespersons to highlight the past of PML-N and how the party had attacked judges to get favourable decisions by pressurising superior court judges.

“They are a mafia which pressurises judges to take decisions in their favour. They will not be allowed to use such tactics, the prime minister was quoted as saying. He vowed that the government respects the institutions and will stand by them. He mentioned that the “mafia had attacked” judges in the past.

Sources revealed the prime minister said the audio leak conspiracy was hatched by the PML-N. He directed the spokespersons to highlight the previous history of the PML-N as to how the party had attacked the judiciary and maligned judges.

The directives come after former chief justice Gilgit-Baltistan Appellant Court Rana Shamin had alleged that ex-CJP Saqib Nisar had given instructions to keep former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in jail till the general elections in 2018.

Later, an audio clip allegedly featuring Nisar was leaked in which a man could be heard saying that “Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz would have to be punished to make space for Imran Khan in politics.”
In the audio clip, the man could allegedly be heard saying that “even though there are no cases against Maryam Nawaz, she would still have to be punished.”

Regarding the recently enacted laws concerning the use of electronic voting machines in the next general elections, the prime minister asked his spokespersons to take people into confidence on the matter that the use of EVMs would end rigging in future polls.

“We will hold the next elections via voting machines and hindrances in the way of overseas Pakistanis’ voting should be removed,” the prime minister said.

PM Imran Khan directed government officials to resolve the issues pertaining to overseas Pakistanis’ National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and passports. He said the government will fulfill its promise to overseas Pakistanis.