SC stays Feb 25 order, Shahbaz Sharif restored as CM Punjab

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has stayed its decision of February 25 in which it disqualified Pakistan Muslim League-N President, Mian Shahbaz Sharif to hold the office of chief executive of Punjab province. The five-member bench headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani granted a stay to Shahbaz Sharif on a writ filed through Khawaja Haris till the disposal of main petition. The bench also announced that the operation of judgment shall be suspended and the petitioner shall resume the office of Chief Minister of Punjab with immediate effect. The apex court on February 25 disqualified PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif from contesting elections and holding public office, a decision which caused widespread protests and flung the country into weeks of political chaos. The government on March 19 filed appeals against the decision and has since reinstated Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in a package of measures designed to defuse the standoff.