The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday gave time to the federal law officer to file comments in a petition seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan for making false statements on the floor of National Assembly.
The petitioners, Moulvi Iqbal Hiader and Maqsood Ahmed, moved the court requesting it to declare that Mian Nawaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali are disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution for speaking lies in the National Assembly.
The petitioners submitted that earlier premier in meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif had asked the latter to intervene in the political crisis in order to resolve it. When question regarding COAS’s intervention was raised in the National Assembly, both the premier and the interior ministry distanced them from having asked for COAS’ arbitration, they added.
Later, they said, the ISPR issued a statement clarifying that the COAS was asked by the government to play a facilitative role. The petitioners said that Sharif and Nisar had no right to retain their offices as they were disqualified under Article 62 and 63 for speaking lies, adding that they attempted to disgrace and defame the top security institution.
During the preliminary hearing, the court had tagged the matter with another petition filed by Iqbal Hiader through which he sought dissolution of national and provincial assemblies and formation of a national government.
Haider submitted that due to ongoing tense political situation, the constitutional machinery had broken down throughout the country. The federal and provincial assemblies should be dissolved and a national government with assistance of the armed forces be formed comprising of all the parties, he said.