ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and secretary interior on the petition seeking registration of Milli Muslim League (MML) as a political party.

MML, seen by many as the political arm of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), has challenged the order of ECP, which rejected the application of the party for registration.

IHC bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition.

According to the petitioner, the ECP had declined to register MML as political party on the behest of the interior ministry.

Arguing before the court, MML counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi requested the court to set aside the ECP’s order of Oct 11 and direct the election commission to register the MML as a political party.

Petitioner adopted before the court that non-registration of MML was not only against the Constitution but a violation of fundamental rights and Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002.

The petitioner said the party had repeatedly clarified that none of its members belonged to any proscribed or banned organisation. All office bearers of the party are educated and there exists not even a fictitious FIR against them.

The petitioner contended that there were almost 352 political parties registered with ECP and none of them fulfill the criteria for a political party and nor was there democracy in these parties.

Such political parties instead of promoting harmony, patriotism, ideology of Pakistan and protecting rights of the people of Pakistan are damaging the ideology of Pakistan.

The counsel argued that the ECP on the recommendation of interior ministry has rejected the application for MML’s registration. It requested the court to stop interior ministry from interfering into the domain of the ECP.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2017