LHC disposes of petition against Nawaz

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Wednesday disposed of a petition filed by the PAT seeking directions to restrain former premier Nawaz Sharif from heading any office or meeting of the PML-N after his disqualification. 

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur had filed the petition pleading that Nawaz could not lead any political party under Political Parties Order 2002 after his disqualification by the Supreme Court in Panama case. 

Petitioner’s counsel Ishtiaq Ahmad Chaudhry argued that the former prime minister could not even become a member of any political party after the disqualification but he continued to chair meetings of his party in violation of the law. He asked the court to order the ECP to bar Nawaz from leading or chairing meetings of his political party in future or holding any office. 

The counsel further argued that Nawaz after his disqualification chaired a meeting of the PML-N parliamentary committee on July 29 in Islamabad, which was a clear violation of the law.  ECP legal director made appearance and informed the court that the Commission had already taken cognizance of the matter and issued a direction to PML-N chairman to make arrangements for election of the party’s new president. He further said the ECP would hear point of view of PAT and PTI and had fixed hearing on August 21.  In light of the ECP reply, Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah disposed of the petition.