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Court has no concern with PM’s disqualification: SC
Acting CJ says ruling into PM's disqualification will be according to constitution
INP
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court has said that ruling into case regarding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification will be in accordance with the constitution of Pakistan.
A three-member bench headed by Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Jawaad S Khawaja on Wednesday resumed the hearing of petition seeking disqualification of the prime minister. During proceedings, Justice Jawwad remarked that the court was not concerned if the prime minister and the interior minister were disqualified or if 50 lawmakers were de-seated following the verdict in the case.
He said that the ruling had to be made according to the constitution. The court sought assistance from the attorney general over four questions including: (1) what is the authorised forum if there is a petition for the disqualification of the parliamentarian? (2) If it is decided that the issue will be heard by the court, what court will be authorised? (3) What will be the authorised procedure for disqualification? (4) What will be the evidence for the authorised procedure of disqualification?
Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani remarked that it was written in the constitution that a parliamentarian convicted by the court was disqualified. He asked what case had Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif been convicted in. He further remarked that the National Assembly speaker had issued his ruling which stated that Nawaz Shairf could not be disqualified on these allegations.
He asked where it was written in the constitution that if a parliamentarian was a liar he should be removed from the assembly. Justice Jawwad remarked that the court would try to issue some ruling during the next proceeding of the case. It should be mentioned that the petitions seeking the disqualification of the prime minister have been filed by former MNA and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ishaq Khakwani, PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Advocate Gohar Sindhu.
The petitioners had requested the court to disqualify Nawaz Sharif under Article 62 (f) of the constitution, claiming he gave a false statement during a joint sitting of the parliament regarding the role of army chief in negotiations with the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk