ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposed off a petition seeking to bar deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from chairing PML-N meetings after Election Commission of Pakistan assured it that action being taken in this regard, as the media reported.
A bench of the LHC was hearing the petition filed by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur who moved the court seeking its restraining order, barring Sharif from chairing the party meetings.
ECP’s Umar Hayat informed the court that the election body was taking action on the matter involving Sharif for chairing party meetings and PML-N had also been served notice in this regard.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that Nawaz can’t head any political party under the Political Party Order 2002 after his disqualification by the Supreme Court.
Sharif was holding party meetings even after he was declared disqualified by the court, which was violation of the relevant laws and constitution. He was not eligible to hold party meetings, the petition said while pleading to the court to bar him from holding party meetings in future or holding any of the party office.
On Aug 08, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a notice to ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) directing to appoint a new party leader.
The ECP notice citing Political Parties Order 2002 said “a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in a political party.†Article 15 of the PML-N’s own party constitution also stipulates that if the seat of party president is vacant, it is to be filled within one week’s time, it added.
The PML-N has been asked to effect new change and inform the election regulation body.
