Moments after the Supreme Court declared Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari’s ruling on the Punjab chief minister’s election as illegal, former foreign minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi lauded the top court’s verdict, saying the people’s mandate has been respected.
Earlier, a three-member bench of the apex court declared Mazari's ruling, which led to PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz’s victory, as "illegal" and ruled that PML-Q leader Parvez Elahi will be the new chief minister of the province.
"Today, the Constitution's rule has been accepted and the Pakistani people's mandate has been respected," he said in a press conference.
"On July 17, the people of Pakistan accepted Imran Khan's narrative wholeheartedly and we reject this imported government," he added.
Criticising the deputy speaker's ruling, Qureshi said Mazari "trampled the Constitution and did not follow the principles", adding that he did not care about the law.
The superior judiciary tolerated the criticism with patience and fulfilled its responsibility, he said.
"The coalition government tried to employ delaying tactics to intimidate the judiciary."
He further said that the decision has proved that Pakistan's judiciary is independent.
Earlier, a three-member bench of the apex court declared Mazari's ruling, which led to PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz’s victory, as "illegal" and ruled that PML-Q leader Parvez Elahi will be the new chief minister of the province.
"Today, the Constitution's rule has been accepted and the Pakistani people's mandate has been respected," he said in a press conference.
"On July 17, the people of Pakistan accepted Imran Khan's narrative wholeheartedly and we reject this imported government," he added.
Criticising the deputy speaker's ruling, Qureshi said Mazari "trampled the Constitution and did not follow the principles", adding that he did not care about the law.
The superior judiciary tolerated the criticism with patience and fulfilled its responsibility, he said.
"The coalition government tried to employ delaying tactics to intimidate the judiciary."
He further said that the decision has proved that Pakistan's judiciary is independent.