Change of govt: PMLN’s fear and PTI’s hope from post-Qazi Faez Isa SC

ISLAMABAD: Once again, the eyes are set on the (post-Qazi Faez Isa) Supreme Court for possible change of government.

If it happens, it will be yet another “judicial coup” for the ruling PMLN government but “delivery of justice” for PTI.

In recent days, PMLN leader and defence minister Khawaja Asif feared that the Supreme Court will target the Feb 8 elections after October-November this year. It means the possible fall of the Shehbaz Sharif government.

On the contrary, PTI leader and former Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser expressed his party’s hope that the judiciary will deliver the PTI its “stolen” mandate and the party will be in a position to form the government in December this year.

Interestingly, the fear of PMLN and the hopes of PTI are attached with the post-Qazi Faez Isa Supreme Court led by the next Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. The incumbent chief justice is retiring in the second half of October this year. Upon Isa’s retirement, Mansoor Ali Shah will become the Chief Justice.

Both the PMLN and PTI see the judiciary under Mansoor Ali Shah taking up the Feb 8 election disputes on an urgent basis for early decision in favour of the PTI and against PMLN.

After the recent majority judgment authored by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah in the SIC reserved seats case, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said that the PTI got what it did not ask for in the decision, adding there was an agenda that the February 8 elections will be targeted and after waiting for October or November.

In the wake of Supreme Court’s July 12 verdict on the reserved seats case in favour of PTI, Khawaja Asif asked the courts to refrain from giving “political verdicts” and pass judgments that support their respect. “Why did the judiciary not take any notice of 2018 election results, then? Didn’t they see the result of 2018 general elections?” Asif raised a question.

A few days later, PTI leader Asad Qaiser hoped the conditions for the embattled party will improve down the road and it may be in a position to form the government in December after securing the “magic number” required to oust the incumbent rulers.

“I hope that the situation [for the party] will improve by December and I believe that we will get enough seats [in the National Assembly] to form the government,” he said while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.

He pinned hopes on the judiciary for wrapping up the party’s petitions against the alleged manipulation of February 8 election results. Qaiser said the party was looking towards the judiciary for early verdicts on the petitions for its “successful candidates who won election on the basis of Form 45”. He added the verdicts on the petitions lodged with the election tribunals would also increase the strength of PTI lawmakers in the assemblies. He hoped that by December this year, PTI may be in a position to form its government in the Centre.