On a petition filed by Syed Zaffar Ali Shah, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, on Wednesday issued notices to 97 respondents, including prime minister, opposition leader, Senate chairman, MQM parliamentarians, Election Commission, National Assembly and Sindh Assembly speakers, in Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers’ resignation case.
The petitioner argued that resignations of the MQM lawmakers became affective the day they personally confirmed it in front of the assembly speakers. He said that any attempt to bring them back to the assemblies would be a “non-democratic act”.
Shah requested the apex court to order approval of resignations and direct the Election Commission to hold by-election on vacant seats.
Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked that petitions pertaining to resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and MQM will be heard together in the next hearing.
The court adjourned the hearing for indefinite period.
