Petition seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification dismissed

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Imran Khan under Article 62 and 63 and on other legal grounds.

When the hearing resumed, the bench observed that the petition is now ineffective as the previous assembly has already completed its tenure.

On this, PML-N leader Danyal Chaudhry withdrew the petition, he filed in 2017.

A three-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, and comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case.

The petition states the premier does not fulfill Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution, and hence should be disqualified for not being Sadiq and Ameen.

Barrister Danyal Chaudhry son of senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Tanveer filed a petition in May 2017 under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making PTI Chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) through its chairman as respondents.

The petitioner prayed the apex court that a special oath may be solemnised qua the members of Joint Investigation Team (constituted to investigate Sharif family) to work uninfluenced from speeches of respondent (Imran Khan) and other material of similar nature broadcasted in this behalf.

The petitioner further prayed that Imran Khan be declared disqualified as he does not and never remained Sadiq and Ameen within the view of Article 62& 63 of the Constitution in view of his statements in respect of London flat, Banglow at Banigala and his daughter.

He said that the respondent had been found in violation of the oath he took under the Constitution being the member of the Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) by making speeches/press releases against the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity of Pakistan and well-being and prosperity of people of Pakistan, and further it be declared that his speeches/press releases are tantamount to influence the expected final decision of the Panama Papers scandal and the members of JIT.

The petitioner requested the court that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) be directed not to allow broadcast any such material which jeopardise the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity of Pakistan and well-being and prosperity of people of Pakistan which is violative of terms of licences issued to these media Houses.

He submitted that if the respondent is not stopped it will result in derailment of democratic process successfully/smoothly going on since a decade which is sine qua non for the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity of Pakistan and well-being and prosperity of people of Pakistan. He further contended that the complete opinion of the court is still awaited and is expected to arrive at the conclusion of the investigation being conducted by the JIT so constituted in this behalf by this august court. However, he said that the respondent (Imran Khan ) is making different speeches to undermine the orders so passed by this august court in the Constitutional Petition 29 of 2016 and other petitions [Panama Papers case] and further to influence the expected outcome of the investigation made by the JIT.