ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Most of the mainstream political parties have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to throw out the petition of Dr Tahirul Qadri that sought reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The opposition PML-N, which had been opposing Dr Qadri’s demand for dissolution of the ECP and a raft of electoral reforms, described the court’s decision as a major development in the country’s judicial history.

PML-N’s spokesman Senator Mushahidullah Khan said the apex court ruling had not only vindicated his party’s stance that the Canadian citizenship (Dr Qadri) had no right to play with constitutional institutions, but also barred all dual nationals from doing politics in the country.

“According to my party, Dr Qadri is a non-entity. God knows on whose behest he was busy conspiring to delay the general election in the country. Now the Supreme Court’s decision has cleared the way for elections which is a good omen for the country,” Senator Khan said.

Answering a question, he said the PML-N believed that the ruling PPP had supported the cleric at some point; otherwise he would not have gone so far.

He said that only a few weeks ago Dr Qadri was all praise for the Supreme Court when it ordered the arrest of all accused in the RPP case, including the prime minister, and now when the court rejected his petition he criticised it in the worst possible terms.

The Pakistani Tehrik-i-Insaaf, which had endorsed the Islamabad declaration signed between Dr Qadri and the coalition government and supported his demand for dissolution of the ECP, has also accepted the SC decision.

Talking to Dawn, PTI spokesman Shafqat Mehmood said his party was not satisfied with the performance of the ECP but never demanded its ‘unconstitutional’ dissolution.

When reminded of a statement made by party chief Imran Khan in Chakwal that members of the ECP could be replaced prior to elections, Mr Mehmood clarified that the statement was linked to the Supreme Court’s approval of Dr Qadri’s plea.

“Now the court has given its ruling and the PTI wholeheartedly accepts it,” he said.

The PML-Q, whose chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had headed the government team for negotiations with Dr Qadri which led to the ending of his long march in Islamabad last month, said it was the first party which had demanded reconstitution of the ECP.

The PML-Q has been criticising members of the commission for their alleged soft stand towards the PML-N.

Commenting on the SC ruling, PML-Q information secretary Senator Kamil Ali Agha said his party had nothing to do with Dr Qadri’s petition. Referring to a meeting with Dr Qadri held on Jan 27, he said the government team had categorically told the cleric that its hands were tied as far as changes in the ECP were concerned.

“Dr Qadri moved the court in his personal capacity and it has nothing to do with his agreement with the government,” Mr Agha said.

In reply to a question, he said the party leadership was in contact with President Asif Ali Zardari on the issue of implementation of the Islamabad declaration.

The government had accepted Dr Qadri’s demand to dissolve the National Assembly before March 16, allowing the ECP to conduct elections within 90 days. Under the agreement, the government was bound to seek his input while recommending two names for the caretaker prime minister.

Political observers believe that after the SC ruling Dr Qadri has lost the moral high ground he had gained as a result of the Islamabad declaration.

A senior PPP leader, who was part of the government’s negotiating team, said the ruling party had never accepted Dr Qadri’s demand for dissolution of the ECP.

But he said the SC verdict would be taken in bad taste as the Constitution did allow Pakistanis to hold dual nationality who, except for contesting elections and becoming parliamentarians, were eligible to all basic rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

According to him, the ruling will open another Pandora’s Box with serious repercussions for millions of Pakistanis who are living in other countries and are in possession of dual citizenship.