LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Friday rebuked PML-N MNA Javed Latif for his statement that his party would not say “Pakistan Khappay” (long live Pakistan) if anything happened to its vice president Maryam Nawaz.

The chief justice observed that the masses would crush those not saying Pakistan Khappay.

Latif appeared before the court along with his counsel to plead a petition against registration of a case against him on charges of maligning state institutions.

Admonishing the petitioner, Chief Justice Khan said how could anyone speak against the country. “One should remain loyal to the country, not any individual. Individuals are not perpetual but the institutions are,” he maintained.

The CJ said he did not want to say something about the parliamentarians but they should do some self-accountability. He asked the MNA to move to some other country if he wanted to speak against Pakistan.

Latif’s counsel Farhad Ali Shah argued that the police did not fulfill legal requirements before the registration of the case.

Chief Justice Khan directed the counsel to prove the innocence in the police investigation.

“No relief can be given to anyone speaking against the country,” he reminded the counsel.

CJ Khan regretted that first they spoke against the country and then approached courts of the same country for relief.

The counsel finally withdrew the petition.

Later, MNA Latif told media that those distributing certificates of “traitors” for the last 73 years should think about the country. He said former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had disclosed that her life was in danger but the state did nothing. He said nothing good would happen to the country only by saying “long live Pakistan”. He said mistakes were needed to be identified.

Latif said he would stick to his point of view and would not repent even if hanged.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2021