Islamabad, Feb 26: Politics in Pakistan witnessed yet another phase today after opposition leader Nawaz Sharif was barred by the Supreme Court from contesting elections. The court directive triggered violent protests against the verdict being described as a "diktat" by the former premier who accused President Asif Ali Zardari of hatching a conspiracy against him.
Reports said that the apex court also declared as null and void the election of Sharif's brother Shahbaz, who is the Chief Minister of Pakistan and within hours of its ruling the President imposed Governor's rule in the country's most populous province for a period two months.
A three-member bench led by Justice Musa K Leghari dismissed all petitions challenging the Lahore High Court's order disqualifying Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections. It also upheld the bar on Sharif contesting polls. The court order raised the prospect of fresh political instability in the country as its shaky government struggles against rising terror activities.
"This is not a judicial order but a diktat and people know who did this," Nawaz Sharif told reporters after the verdict became public.
Agitated supporters of the Sharifs took to the streets and staged protests in Lahore and many cities and towns of Punjab province including Bhawalpur, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. They blocked roads and burnt tyres.
The Lahore High Court had earlier ruled that Nawaz Sharif, who was overthrown in a coup by former President Parvez Musharraf, was ineligible to stand in a by-election because of previous criminal convictions.
The court decision is likely to deepen a growing rift between Sharif and the new government headed by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Though the judgment against Sharif would not directly affect a year old PPP-led coalition government, however, the ruling against the younger Sharif could spark off a power struggle in Pakistan's richest province of Punjab, where the PML-N is in coalition with the PPP.
Accusing Zardari and Supreme Court judges of hatching a conspiracy to oust him from the electoral process, former premier Sharif challenged him to hold a referendum on the apex court's judgment.
"Zardari asked us to cut a deal and when we refused, he conspired against me with Supreme Court judges. For this judgment we can have referendum and the masses will tell how they feel about the judgement," Sharief said.
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