IHC issues notice to Zardari in disqualification petition

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought a reply from former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a disqualification case moved against him by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Khurram Sher Zaman

and Usman Dar.

During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued a notice to Zardari in the matter and remarked that political parties should avoid bringing such matters to courts as many cases are already pending in the courts.

He suggested that Parliament should make a special committee to tackle with such issues and stressed that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is the patent platform for the purpose.

The petitioners allege the former president omitted details in nomination papers filed in the ECP regarding various properties he reportedly owns in United States and within the country that is in violation of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution and Section 231 of the

Election Act, 2017.

Zardari was elected a Member of the National Assembly from the NA-213 Nawabshah seat during the July 25 general election and “is not qualified to be a member of the National Assembly”, the petition added. Justice Minallah, after listening to the initial arguments, issued a notice to Zardari and sought his reply within two weeks. The petitioners had earlier filed a petition in Supreme Court which was turned down with objections.