ISLAMABAD – The supreme court of Pakistan raised objections on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenging the Election Act 2017.
Returning the petition on Friday, the SC registrar’s office objected that the particular petition cannot be submitted to the top court, directing 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.