ISLAMABAD: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday it would be dangerous to do away with laws approved by the parliament as the Constitution is a sacred document to run affairs of the state. 

The remarks by Nawaz came as the Supreme Court concluded the hearing of several petitions against the recently-passed Elections Act 2017.

A three-member bench had been hearing several petitions challenging specific clauses of the act that led to Nawaz's appointment as party president following his dismissal as prime minister last year. 

SC concludes hearing against Elections Act, may announce short order today

Chief Justice of Pakistan observed that the bench will reconvene shortly and either reserve the judgment or announce short order

Appreciating the judiciary's stance regarding the Constitution, the PML-N president said that institutions earn respect through their performance. 

However, he said the Constitution would be brought in question if the courts start to verify laws and added that the Constitution is formed by the public's elected representatives. 

The former premier further said that the parliament and the institutions stay within their ambit due to the Constitution. 

During Wednesday's hearing, the chief justice remarked that the country's leadership is respectable, adding that the media misreported the court's remarks.

Chief Justice Nisar also observed that there is no reason for the apex court to use words like thief, adding that the fallout of the issue is unacceptable. 

Disqualification to party president

Following Nawaz's disqualification as prime minister in July 2017 in the Panama Papers case, the ruling party managed to amend the Constitution to allow the former premier to retain his chairmanship of the PML-N.

As a result, the Elections Act 2017 was passed by Parliament bringing Nawaz back as the party president despite his disqualification from the National Assembly.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, MNA Jamshaid Dasti, National Party and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), among others, challenged the law for allowing a disqualified parliamentarian to become a party head.

The petitions, challenging specific clauses of the Elections Act 2017, state that Nawaz's appointment as party president is in violation of Clause 5 of the Political Parties Order 2002 and Article 17 of the Constitution.