The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a notice to the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to appear before the court in a case pertaining to former president Pervez Musharraf’s lifetime ineligibility for contesting elections.
A two-member-bench headed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani heard the case on Monday.
Musharraf’s counsel Qamar Afzal said the high court had surpassed its powers in declaring Musharraf ineligible to contest elections for life.
Upon the request of the petitioner to form a larger bench to hear the case, Justice Usmani asked how could that benefit Musharraf?
Afzal replied the SC had given a decision in the Nawaz Sharif case that lifetime ineligibility could not be established in any matter.
“The high court had declared lifetime ineligibility in the treason case,” said Justice Usmani.
Afzal, however, said a trial under Article 6 could not be carried out until after proper investigation. But Justice Usmani replied “the trial will be carried out, as facts are evident”.
Afzal insisted Musharraf could not be declared ineligible on the basis of mere assumption.
The court later adjourned the case for a week.
It also referred the case to the chief justice upon the petitioner’s request for formation of a larger bench.