ISLAMABAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan's ruling party is scheduled to hold a high level emergency meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to chalk out future strategy after the country's top court barred former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from heading the party.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan, which had disqualified Nawaz Sharif for holding public office in July last year over corruption charges, also ruled that a person, who is not eligible to become member of the parliament, is "debarred from holding the position of Party Head."
Sharif was appointed head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in October last year after the parliament passed a law in September that allowed a disqualified person for public office to head of a political party.
Several opposition leaders had approached the country's top court against PML-N decision to elect Sharif as head of the party.
The PML-N resented the court's latest verdict while the opposition parties welcomed it shortly after the Supreme Court's Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar delivered the verdict against Sharif's party leadership.
The Election Commission of Pakistan removed the name of Nawaz Sharif as head of the PML-N and advised the party's secretary general in a letter to appoint a new party chief.
Political affairs experts are seemed unanimous that the court's verdict is a big shock for the ruling PML-N at a time when the senate elections are scheduled for March 3 and the parliamentary elections will be held in mid-July.
Senator Usman Kakar said he was disappointed at the court's decision to remove Sharif as head of the PML-N. "Only parties have the right to elect or remove party leaders. The courts cannot decide about the leadership of the parties. It is the right of political parties to elect their leaders," Kakar, a senior official of a local party, told Xinhua late Wednesday.
"I think the Supreme Court decision is not only for one person but it would be applied for everyone. It is a dangerous trend and culture. Parliament is supreme and sovereign and can take decision under the constitution," the senator further said.
The opposition parties welcomed the court's verdict while the PML-N showed an angry reaction.
Former President and Co-Chairman of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Zardari blamed Sharif for the development and insisted that the courts decisions should be respected.
"Clash between the state and the institutions will not favor anyone. It is unfortunate that Nawaz Sharif has chosen the path of confrontation with the state institutions," said Zardari in a statement on Wednesday in reference to Nawaz Sharif's hard-hitting speeches about the judiciary.
A spokesman for the PML-N described the verdict as contrary to the fundamental requirements of justice. "There is no precedent of such decision in the democratic history. It would harm democratic norms in Pakistan. Controversial decisions to snatch leadership from political parties will never succeed," the spokesman said.
Imtiaz Gul, head of the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies, said that the disqualification of Sharif as head of a political party will further "sharpen the divide between the PML-N and the judiciary with serious implications for domestic politics."
"This may also serve as booster for the PML-N ahead of elections," Gul told Xinhua late Wednesday. He said Sharif and his family members, who are facing trial in an anti-corruption court, have yet to provide legally sustainable answers to questions about their properties abroad and even the trial "may go against them."
Zahid Hussain, a current affairs TV program host, views the decision of the Supreme Court as a "serious setback" for Sharif and his PML-N party.
"Some party leaders were not in favor of Nawaz Sharif's approach towards the judiciary and they would advise him do not move towards confrontation," Hussain told Xinhua.
He said some party leaders had suggested appointing Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif to head the party after his removal as the prime minister, but the suggestion was not accepted.
Hussain also opined the court verdict could benefit the party as people could show sympathy for the party in the general elections, adding Nawaz Sharif would be available to share his opinion with the party leaders despite his removal as the party chief.