–PML-N VP’s counsel says Maryam was given position on basis of the party’s constitution that has been approved by ECP
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday concluded hearing of a petition seeking the removal of Maryam Nawaz as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president on the basis of it “conflicting with the law and the constitution”.
A verdict on the petition, submitted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Ali Bokhari, Kanwal Shauzab and Javeria Zafar, will be given on August 27.
In their petition, the ruling lawmakers wondered if it was possible that members of the assembly fully abide by Article 62 and Article 63 of the constitution, but the “people who control them [the lawmakers] don’t”.
It added that the Supreme Court had disqualified Maryam’s father, Nawaz Sharif, from his party position as well and said that the ECP should similarly declare her appointment to be null and void.
A three-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan, reserved the verdict in the petition after hearing arguments from both the sides.
Maleeka Bukhari’s counsel Hassan Maan, in his arguments, questioned that the “[since the] PML-N leader is convicted from the NAB court, how she can hold a party position?”
Bukhari’s counsel further observed that “a [temporary] suspension of conviction from the court is not equivalent to its removal. “Maryam can take the party position if the decision on plea comes in her favour, which she had filed in the high court”, he continued.
However, defence counsel, Barrister Zafarullah, noted there is “no [such] law which could challenge the appointment of her client [Maryam] as party’s vice president”.
Furthering his argument, he said that the ECP is responsible for holding national elections, not party elections.
“Maryam Nawaz has not been elected for the position of party vice president. Her selection to the position does not affect the rights of any of the petitioners,” the lawyer argued.
“Maryam was given the position on the basis of the party constitution and the PML-N constitution has been approved by the ECP,” the lawyer said, wrapping his arguments against the maintainability of the petition.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the election commission reserved its verdict in the petition.
It may be recalled that on May 6, Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) had decided to challenge Maryam Nawaz’s appointment as vice president Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
In July 2018, an accountability court had announced its verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption reference, sentencing Maryam to seven years for abetment after she was found “instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and another one year for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). She was disqualified from contesting polls after being convicted.
However, in January, the apex court had upheld an Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict ordering the suspension of prison sentences awarded to Maryam and her father.
Recently, the Supreme Court had ruled that the suspension of a sentence does not mean the nullification of a conviction.
