| GEO Pakistan | | SC completes hearing in Nawaz eligibility case | Updated at: 2151 PST, Tuesday, May 19, 2009
 ISLAMABAD: A five-member bench of the Supreme Court completed on Tuesday the hearing of review petitions regarding disqualification of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Shairf.
Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa explained the presidential power to grant pardon under Article-45 of the Constitution. The Article says: "The President shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority."
The bench bench headed by Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jillani includes Justice Nasir ul Mulk, Justice Mohammad Musa K Leghari, Justice Shaikh Hakim Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.
It is hearing eligibility case pertaining to the Sharif brothers as well as appeal of Nawaz Sharif against his convictio nin 2000 on plane hijacking charges.
Before the attorney general, Qazi Mohiuddin, counsel for Nawaz Sharif's opponent candidate Noor Elahi and Sayed Khurram Shah, also completed his arguments.
Sardar Khosa said that under the SC rules the apex court has the power of review and it can use this authority in any case.
When asked by the bench why the federation became an appellant in the case, Khosa said that under Article-17 it is the responsibility of the State to protect the rights of citizen.
The bench will resume proceedings on Wednesday morning when counsel for Shahbaz Sharif will present his arguments. |  |
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