LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to the federal government, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) former secretary general Jahangir Tareen and others on a petition against the disqualified politician for convening and chairing an official meeting of the top government officials.

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh held the maiden hearing of the petition, heard arguments of the petitioner and directed a deputy attorney general to submit a reply on behalf of the government by Dec 4.

Earlier, the petitioner Chaudhry Shoaib Saleem advocate stated that Mr Tareen was disqualified by the Supreme Court for being not ‘sadiq and amin’ under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution and Section 99 of Representation of People Act (Ropa).

However, he added, Mr Tareen had been involved in all lobbying for making of the government, whether provincial or the federal, and participated in various meetings held in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat illegally and unlawfully. He argued that a disqualified person had no such legal and the constitutional mandate even to have sitting in such meetings for being dishonest as declared by the SC.

The lawyer asked the court to summon Mr Tareen and seek an explanation that under what authority he had convened and chaired an official meeting of government officials. He further asked the court to permanently restrain the prime minister from allowing Mr Tareen to participate in any official meeting in any manner and capacity whatsoever.

ELECTION PETITION:

An election tribunal of the LHC issued notices to Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on an election petition challenging victory of Mr Khan from NA-95, Mianwali.

Abdul Wahab of the Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party, a defeated candidate from NA-95, challenged the election of Imran Khan, accusing him of concealing mandatory details, mainly about his sons, in the nomination papers.

The petitioner’s counsel Mobeenuddin Qazi stated that under section 60(2)(d) of Election Act, 2017, a candidate had to furnish a statement of his assets and liabilities, his spouse and dependent children; however, Mr Khan had failed to disclose details of the properties owned by his wife and two sons.

He pleaded the respondent was not qualified under Article 62(1)(d), (e) and (f) and Article 63(1) (o) & (p) of the Constitution. He argued before the tribunal that election of Mr Khan as returned candidate be declared as void and the nomination of the respondent was also invalid. He further requested the tribunal to de-notify the respondent as an MNA and declare the seat as vacant, besides issuing directions to the ECP for initiating appropriate proceedings against him.

Another election tribunal of the LHC issued notices to Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood and the ECP on a petition challenging victory of the minister from NA-131, Lahore.

Runner-up candidate of PML-N Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan challenged the victory of Mahmood, accusing him of rigging in the election. The tribunal issued notices for next week.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2018