ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday dismissed the Registrar Office’s objections to petitions challenging the Elections Act 2017.
During an in-camera hearing, the CJP overruled the objections of the registrar who had directed the petitioners to approach the “relevant forum” for redressal of their objections, and ordered him to fix the petitions for hearing.
The petitions were filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Member of National Assembly Jamshed Dasti and several others against the recently-passed law.
Khan, in his petition filed under Article 184/3 of the Constitution, maintained that the amendments in the Act are in violation of the constitution as a disqualified legislator cannot become a party chief.
By passing an amendment to the law, which generally pertains to the holding of polls in the country, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had allowed ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to regain leadership of the party.
The PTI leader also stated that the act is against Political Parties Order 2002, and in direct conflict with Articles 204 and 175 of the Constitution.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had to leave his designation of party leader after the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28 disqualified him from parliament, stated the petition.
Khan requested the court to annul Articles 9, 10 and 203 of the act, as he maintained that the amendments were put in the House, in view of giving constitutional cover to Nawaz for becoming party chief again.
On October 2, the Election Bill 2017 was passed in the National Assembly which paved the way for former premier to regain the chairmanship of the ruling party.
