Protests erupted across Pakistan today after the Supreme Court barred opposition PML-N chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from contesting polls and declared the election of his brother Shahbaz,chief minister of Punjab province,as null and void,effectively dismissing him and setting the stage for renewed political confrontation in a country grappling with rising militancy. Describing the verdict as a diktat,Sharif accused President Asif Ali Zardari of hatching a conspiracy against him and challenged him to hold a referendum on the judgment. Within hours of the ruling,Zardari imposed Governors rule in Punjab,the countrys most populous province,for a period of two months. Supporters of the Sharifs took to the streets in hundreds,grappling with police and tearing down Zardari banners and posters. A three-member bench led by Justice Musa K Leghari dismissed all petitions challenging the Lahore High Courts order disqualifying Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections. It also upheld the bar on Sharif contesting polls because of previous criminal convictions. Sharif said: Zardari asked us to cut a deal and when we refused,he conspired against me with Supreme Court judges.I am not surprised by this decision of Supreme Court as I predicted it two days back. Zardari told my brother Shahbaz,lets do a business deal. We will get a verdict in your favour that will allow both you and Nawaz to contest elections and you can continue as chief minister.
