PM’s disqualification: SC says ruling will be according to constitution

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday resumed hearing petitions seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The petitions are being heard by a three member bench of the apex court headed by acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Jawaad S Khawaja.

During proceedings, Justice Khawaja remarked the court was not concerned if the prime minister and interior minister were disqualified or if 50 MNAs were de-seated following the verdict in the case. Justice Khawaja added that the ruling had to be made according to the constitution.

The Supreme Court sought assistance from the Attorney General over four questions.

1) What is the authorised forum if there is a petition for the disqualification of a parliamentarian?

2) If it is decided that the issue will be heard by the court, what court will be authorised?

3) What will be the authorised procedure for disqualification?

4) What will be the evidence for the authorised procedure of disqualification?

Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani remarked that it was written in the constitution that a parliamentarian convicted by the court is disqualified. Justice Usmani asked what case had Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif been convicted in. He further remarked that the National Assembly Speaker had issued his ruling which stated that Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf could not be disqualified on these allegations.

Justice Osmani asked where it was written in the constitution that if a parliamentarian was a liar he should be removed from the assembly.

Justice Khawaja remarked that the court would try to issue some ruling during the next proceeding of the case.

Petition seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have been filed by former MNA and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Gohar Sindhu Advocate.

The petitioners had requested the court to disqualify Nawaz Sharif under Article 62 (f) of the Constitution, claiming he gave a false statement during a joint sitting of the parliament regarding the role of army chief in negotiations with PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).