ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday dismissed the objections raised by registrar office on petitions challenging the Election Act 2017.
After ruling out the objections during in-chamber hearing, the chief justice directed the registrar to announce dates to start hearing of the case filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami Muslim League head Sheikh Rashid and several others.
The decision comes a day after the National Assembly rejected a bill after 163 members voted against the proposed legislation, which sought to restrict disqualified parliamentarians from heading a political party.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/na-rejects-bill-seeking-to-bar-disqualified-person-from-heading-political-parties/
On Nov 10, the apex court raised objections on the PTI’s petition saying the particular petition cannot be submitted to the top court and directed the petitioner to contact the relevant forum.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan had maintained in his petition that a person who had been disqualified as a member of the National Assembly (NA) could not hold a party position.
The legislator had pleaded that in a bid to reinstate Nawaz Sharif as the party chief of PML-N, especial amendments were made in the election act against the constitution.
The Election Act 2017 which stirred controversy last month owing to the Khatm-e-Nabuuwat issue had also put Nawaz Sharif back in the saddle to steer Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as he was deemed unfit for any party position after his disqualification in the Panama Papers case ruling on July 28.
The scrapping of PTI’s petition follows rejection of a constitutional petition filed by Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, challenging the same act.
The apex court had objected that the petitioner had not approached any other forum for the same relief and did not provide any justification in this regard.
Citing another objection, the registrar’s office also stated that the certificate was not in conformity with requirements specified in Rule 6 of Order XXV of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980.
Moreover, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had also challenged the election bill in the top court.
