SC verdict accepted with reservations: govt

Nawaz and family to fully cooperate with JIT; ruling elite discusses SC decision clause by clause; joy expressed by PML-N workers and leaders fully justifiable; no political party will be allowed to disrupt peace in Islamabad in garb of any protest

ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday expressed reservations about the Supreme Court verdict in the PanamaLeaks case but said it would stick to its earlier commitment to act upon the apex court's verdict to the letter.

“Unfortunately, the opponents are backing out and trying to wriggle out of their promises to accept the judgment,” said the ruling party leaders during a high-echelon huddle held here at the Prime Minister's House with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in the chair.

The PML-N top leadership arrived at the conclusion that the verdict of the apex court had vindicated the position that it had throughout been pleading in the matter. 

The judgment would be implemented in letter and spirit and none of the clauses would be disputed in public.

It was also decided that no political party or group would be permitted to disrupt peace and order of the federal capital in the garb of any protest. 

The ruling party, while castigating the demand for resignation of the prime minister, discarded it with due contempt. 

“The people have elected the prime minister to serve them and country, but not to tender resignation on demand made by some frustrated.” 

Highly-placed sources told The News that the ruling elite discussed the judgment clause by clause. 

The meeting continued for more than 100 minutes and the participants offered their Jumma prayers together at the Prime Minister's House.

It was decided that the prime minister and his family members would cooperate with the JIT once it was formed. 

The participants were cheerful about the outcome of lengthy hearing of the matter and maintained that the joy being expressed by the workers and leaders of the PML-N was fully justifiable and in place. 

“The decision to offer thanks giving prayers (Shukrana) in the day was also correct.”  

The huddle expressed satisfaction over the reaction of the people who were happy and satisfied since the verdict had ensured continuity, which will culminate in redressing their problems and continuation of development activities across the country. 

The meeting was attended by Leader of the House in the Senate and Chairman PML-N Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, federal ministers Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Political Affairs Dr. Syed Asif Saeed Kirmani, Adviser to the Prime Minister Professor Irfan Siddiquee, Attorney General Aushtar Ausaf Ali, jurist Salman Akram Raja and others.

The meeting drew up the future political strategy keeping in view the tone and tenor of government's detractors. 

The meeting noted the reaction of various political groups to the judgment with fair amount of seriousness but was surprised about the reaction of the PTI and PPP. 

The PTI earlier announced to accept the verdict but now it is trying to change its stance. 

Some participants ridiculed the contention of the PPP ‘high command,’ terming it as ‘bargaining chip’ for certain motives and ‘demands.’ 

The meeting was briefed about the future course of action and was informed that nominations from different agencies and departments sought by the learned court would be communicated to it the next week for the JIT. 

The sixty-day deadline will start on the day when the JIT would be constituted. 

The prime minister appreciated the work of members of his legal team which ably put across his views before the court. 

It was second such brainstorming session of stalwarts of the PML-N as the first one was held briefly soon after the pronouncement of the judgment on Thursday. 

It is likely that another huddle would take place early next week as the prime minister will be in the federal capital today (Saturday) as well.