Declaring it maintainable, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has removed the objections raised by its Registrar Office in respect of petition filed by former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Zafar Ali Shah against participation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in joint session of parliament.
A two-member IHC bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq took up Shah’s petition highlighting PTI parliamentarians’ resignations from the National Assembly.
Shah told the court that as many as 30 PTI MNAs, including the party chairman Imran Khan, have resigned from NA seats. Therefore, as per Article 64 of the Constitution, they cannot participate in the joint session of Parliament, he said.
“The NA speaker can accept their resignations, as any member of NA who abstains from the assembly sessions for more than 40 days is deemed to have resigned from the seat. The evidence with regard to resignations given by PTI chairman and its legislators are available in print and electronic media,” Shah said, praying the court to issue orders to NA speaker to issue notification in respect of these vacant seats. “The Election Commission should issue election schedule with regard to these vacant seats,” he pleaded.
Justice Minallah asked Shah if the court could interfere in political matters or matters of Parliament. “It is my right and I can exercise this right against legislators of PTI and others,” Shah replied.
While declaring the petition maintainable, the court adjourned the hearing for a day.
