Pakistan’s political crisis deepened on Monday with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri giving a fresh 48-hour ultimatum to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down after a former top Election Commission official backed protesters’ allegations of rigging in last year’s polls.
Buoyed by former additional secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Afzal Khan’s claim that the general election in which Mr. Sharif won by a landslide was rigged, protesters headed by Mr. Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan stepped up their campaign against the government.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the supporters of Mr. Khan and Mr. Qadri to clear the Constitution Avenue within 24 hours so that the movement of judges and officials is not hampered.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk said supporters of Mr. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Mr. Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek should move away from the road as “this route will be used to travel to the court.”
The order was given by the court while hearing petitions filed against the protesters for using extra-constitutional measures to remove the government.
Justice Mulk lamented that the fence of the court was being used by the protesters to dry their clothes.
ADVERTISEMENT
He was referring to a picture in the media showing clothes of protesters hanging outside the apex court. The court adjourned the hearing till August 27.