LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan and federal ministry of law & justice on a petition challenging the July 28 notification of the ECP that de-notified Nawaz Sharif as prime minister. Justice Shahid Karim heard the petition moved by Ghulam Yasin of Lawyers Foundation for Justice.

In initial arguments on behalf of the petitioner, Advocate A K Dogar said the ECP had de-notified Sharif illegally and unlawfully as the prime minister could only be removed through a no-confidence move in the parliament under Article 95 of the Constitution.

He said the Constitution expressly commanded that a prime minister could be removed by a mandate of majority in the National Assembly which had elected him.

He said since the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif was elected through the votes his de-notification was unconstitutional.

He asked the court to set aside the ECP notification against Mr Sharif for being unlawful.

Mr Dogar also urged the single judge to refer the matter to a larger bench as it involved important constitutional points which needed interpretation. The judge heard the arguments and issued notices to the respondents for two weeks.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2017