Shahbaz says all should respect SC verdict

LONDON: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said it is parliament’s job to legislate and it is for the judiciary to interpret and explain the laws but everyone must respect the SC decision, whatever it may be. He expressed the hope that the superior judiciary would ensure fair play and the supremacy of justice.

His comments appeared to be an attempt to stop the confusing signals coming out of the PML-N top leadership as spokesman Ahsan Iqbal and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan have been making conflicting statements about the PML-N policy. Shahbaz seemed to support the view of Ch Nisar.

Talking to The News briefly after a dinner gathering of the PML-N here late on Thursday, the PML-N leader declined to go through the details of the case challenging the 18th Amendment in the SC, saying the writ petition in the SC was a constitutional issue and it would be premature to dwell on the possible outcome. He added: “We hope that the Supreme Court will take into account all these aspects when making the decision on the Judicial Commission in the 18th Amendment.”

Shahbaz expressed the hope that the SC decision on the 18th Amendment would strengthen the institutions and democracy, but hastened to add that they must all respect the SC decision, whether it was in favour or against someone and must not create a situation of confrontation.

Shahbaz became visibly agitated when The News asked him questions about his Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s open support and daylight association with the banned sectarian outfits like the Sipah-e-Sahaba and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. However, Shahbaz lashed out at Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and said it was unfair that he was not being criticised for his attempts to woo the same set of sectarian leaders with close ties to al-Qaeda.

Punjab Chief Minister’s latest criticism of Salman Taseer and Taseerís interview in yesterday’s the Guardian are bound to ignite tensions between the two further. Through his Guardian interview, Taseer has openly accused the Sharif brothers of nurturing militants and creating a potential bomb in Punjab. The situation for Sharifs will become complicated too because in the same interview Rana Sanaullah defended the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba: “95% of the people of Sipah-e-Sahaba are not terrorists”.

Shahbaz Sharif said it was a lie and there was no Talibanisation in Punjab. He refused to talk on this subject any further.

Earlier, the Chief Minister of Punjab announced in his speech that his government will hold a major energy conference in London towards the end of May.

Shahbaz described the energy sector as money minting machine given the vast potential it has for the overseas investors.

He blamed Pervez Musharraf for creating the energy crisis and price hike.