ECP’s notification against Nawaz: LHC seeks more arguments

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Wednesday sought more arguments from a senior lawyer on maintainability of a petition challenging the July 28, 2017 notification by the ECP under which Nawaz Sharif was de-notified as prime minister. Earlier, advocate AK Dogar advanced his arguments on behalf of the petitioner that the ECP had de-notified Nawaz Sharif illegally and unlawfully as the prime minister could only be removed through a no-confidence move in the parliament under Article 95 of the Constitution. He said the Constitution expressly commanded that a prime minister could only be removed by a mandate of majority in the National Assembly, which had elected him. He said since the ousted prime minister was elected through the votes his de-notification issued by the ECP was unconstitutional. He further said the high court had the jurisdiction to strike down the impugned notification of the ECP as the matter was of great public importance and pertained to fundamental rights of all citizens of Pakistan. He argued that the petition was maintainable under the Constitution and the court should suspend the impugned notification till decision of the main petition. Justice Shahid Karim adjourned further hearing until March 1 and directed the counsel to continue his arguments on the maintainability of the petition.