LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and attorney general to reply on a petition seeking disqualification of Ishaq Dar as a member of the Senate.

The petition sought an early decision on the reference under Article 63(2), 62 and 63 of the Constitution, which had been pending before the electoral watchdog since February 2022.

Petitioner’s counsel Advocate Azhar Siddique objected to issuing notice to the attorney general for Pakistan (AG) and said they did not make the federal government a party to the case and why the attorney general was appearing in the court.

He said the ECP had delisted the case several times.

He said they also had filed a disqualification reference with the Senate chairman but he did not give any decision after a lapse of one month and they had to approach the ECP.

Mr Siddique said the ECP was not giving any decision on the disqualification of Senator Ishaq Dar and the hearing was adjourned every time.

He further claimed that the ECP’s alleged act of joining hands with the federal government not only “ruined its image” but also raised questions about its neutrality.

He said a three-member judge bench headed by ex-chief justice Saqib Nisar had declared the former finance minister a defaulter in appointment of PTV chief Attaul Haq Qasmi case.

He further stated that as per the judgment, over Rs190 million were spent in the form of salaries and perks granted to Qasmi.

Ordering that the amount spent on the former MD and chairman of PTV be returned by those involved in the illegal appointment, the bench had said, “Qasmi will pay 50 per cent of the amount, while former ministers Pervaiz Rasheed and Ishaq Dar will pay 20pc each and the former principal secretary to the premier will have to submit 10pc of the Rs190.78m”.

“Qasmi’s attitude was unacceptable and he should not be appointed to any such post in the future,” the judgment further said.

He said the Supreme Court also had ordered to recover Rs40m from Ishaq Dar in Attaul Haq Qasmi case.

He pleaded the court to direct the ECP to announce the early decision in Ishaq Dar disqualification case.

Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir was hearing the case. The court issued notices to ECP and attorney general and sought reply on Ishaq Dar disqualification case on next hearing.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2022