HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court’s Hyderabad circuit on Tuesday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and others for Nov 20 on two identical petitions seeking disqualification of the speaker over his recent remarks which the petitioners said were against sanctity of vote.

Petitioners Ali Nawaz, Zulfikar Halepoto, Seema Naz and Rukhsana Kousar were represented in court by Advocate Bhagwandas and petitioner Ashraf Ali Noonari by Advocate Ali Palh.

Advocate Bhagwandas pleaded that the conduct of Agha Siraj Durrani fell in the purview of Article 113 of the Constitution. He submitted in court that the purpose of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution was to guard the house of the chosen representatives of people so that its sanctity, honour and prestige was not tarnished.

He informed court that a video uploaded on social media on Oct 13 showed the Sindh Assembly speaker telling people that he would urinate on vote of people. He said that such remarks hurt people.

The counsel said that the lawmaker was elected on a ticket of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who always believed in the power of vote.

They asked the court to direct the Shikarpur district election commissioner to notify Mr Durrani’s disqualification and restrain him from holding the office of the assembly speaker.

Counsel Ali Palh also prayed to court to order disqualification of Mr Durrani for using abusive language against voters of Sindh.

He said that the ECP should be directed to notify his disqualification as a member of the provincial assembly.

He informed court that Mr Durrani while speaking to people in a village remarked that he would urinate on votes.

He said that the video clip of his remarks went viral on social media and got publicity in the electronic media as well.

He said that the ECP and Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC) did not take any action against him.

He contended that under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, Mr Durrani stood disqualified because he did not bear a good character.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2017