PTI’s criticism on NA-154 verdict disappoints Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Reacting to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s press conference, Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said criticism of the Supreme Court’s verdict on NA-154 by the former has disappointed him.

Addressing a news conference along with PML-N leaders Danyal Aziz and Talal Chaudhry here, he said the apex court had repeatedly asked PTI candidate Jahangir Tareen’s counsel to argue. However, he avoided doing so, he added.

The PML-N stalwart went on to say that his party’s political opponents have started seeking long delays in hearing instead of presenting argument before the court.

Earlier today, the apex court had suspended the election tribunal’s verdict and stopped by-elections in NA-154 Lodhran, scheduled on October 11.

The three-judge bench, headed by Justice Saqib Nisar issued the verdict on the petition filed by PML-N leader Siddique Baloch, in which he had challenged his disqualification for life. He had also prayed for halting the by-election in the constituency.

The bench also ordered reinstatement of Baloch's National Assembly membership.

Information Minister Rashid said Siddique Baloch was ready to contest the by-election and only went to the Supreme Court to challenge his life-time disqualification over fake degree.

The minister said Imran Khan was all praise for the judiciary when judgments are delivered in his favour, but castigates them when verdicts are against him.

Replying a question in a lighter mood, Rashid said the PTI chairman will not hold public gathering against the Election Commission.

PTI chief Imran Khan during today’s press conference had said the PML-N took a stay order in NA-154 Lodhran due to fear of defeat just two weeks before October 11 by-poll .

“They had been telling us not to run away from NA-154 bye-election and right before election they themselves got the stay order; this is typical Shahbaz Sharif type politics where he himself hid behind a stay order and remained chief minister for four years.”

Khan added that in a constituency where 53,000 votes were proven as bogus it was not mere incompetence but actually rigging.

"Following this, we would not be surprised if PML-N takes a stay order in NA-122."

He further said that PTI has decided to not stop its protest against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).