Govt demands CJP Bandial's resignation after Justice Athar Minallah's note

Govt demands CJP Bandial's resignation after Justice Athar Minallah's note

Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday demanded that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial must step down as his position has become controversial, after Justice Athar Minallah’s note in the Punjab polls case.

The statement by the minister comes after Justice Minallah, earlier in the day, maintained that the Supreme Court's suo motu notice over the delay in the announcement of provincial assembly elections was dismissed by a majority 4-3 ruling.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, she said the detailed note of Justice Athar Minallah is a question mark on Supreme Court's proceedings in the case pertaining to elections in Punjab.

She said Justice Minallah's note proves that the proceedings after the petition was dismissed by a majority of 4-3 bench, was wrong interpretation of Constitution, misconduct and undue political interference by judiciary in politics.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the SC's handling of this case has ensued a constitutional crisis in the country.

The minister said no political party ever evades elections, but elections should be held on the completion of constitutional tenure of the assemblies and at the same time across the country and should not be susceptible to the whims of any individual.