- Judge asks petitioner to approach proper forum for party’s cancellation
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed two petitions filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), seeking a ban on former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s rally and cancelling the registration of the Pakistan Muslim League-N from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The court had reserved decision on maintainability and Islamabad High Court judge Justice Amir Farooq announced that these petitions were not maintainable. Pronouncing the verdict, he rejected the petition filed by PTI lawyer Usman Basra demanding ban on the rally of the former prime minister, observing that the petition was not maintainable.
Justice Farooq also heard the petition filed by PAT, pleading for putting the ban on the PML-N and cancellation of its registration. The PAT lawyer had pleaded that since the Supreme Court had disqualified Nawaz Sharif so he could not run affairs of the party.
The lawyer had also argued that it had also been revealed in print media that the Election Commission of Pakistan directed the PML-N to choose a new head of the party as a disqualified person could not lead a party.
He argued that the court should cancel the registration of the ruling party in the ECP as it was in the name of Nawaz Sharif. However, the judge dismissed the petition asking the petitioner that he should approach the proper forum for this case.
Talking to media, Federal Minister Mushahidullah Khan said that large gathering of people in the PML-N rally showed the level of trust of people with Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. “Our opponents were surprised about this huge gathering because they were not expecting such a big crowd,” he said.
He further said that the former prime minister ruled in the hearts of people and no one could exclude his love from their hearts. Senator Asif Saeed Kirmani said that huge gathering in the rally reflected love of the masses for Nawaz Sharif.
“People are eagerly waiting to have a glimpse of their leader Nawaz Sharif. They know that their leader was not involved in corruption and faced victimization,” he said and urged the relevant authorities for restoration of what he called the suspended TV channels’ transmission in order to ensure uninterrupted dissemination of the rally coverage for the masses.
