LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed a petitioner-lawyer to present copy of a decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declaring former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf disqualified to contest 2013 general election.

Justice Shahid Karim was hearing a petition moved by Advocate Muhamamd Afaq seeking removal of former military dictator as president of his political party-All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).

He contended that Musharraf could not hold a political party since he was disqualified to contest 2013 general election. He said the ECP had disqualified the former dictator under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The lawyer pleaded that the Supreme Court recently ruled in ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s case that a disqualified person could not head a political party. Therefore, he said, the same principle should be applied to Musharraf who had been heading a political party despite being a disqualified person.

The petitioner asked the court to order the ECP to remove the former military dictator as president of his political party named APML.

The judge directed the lawyer to submit a copy of the decision relied upon by him to seek the direction for the ECP. Hearing was adjourned till next week.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2018