LAHORE: Lahore High Court Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh on Monday overruled an objection by the registrar office on a petition seeking the disqualification of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as a member of the Senate.

The judge directed the office to present the petition before an appropriate bench of the high court for hearing.

The registrar office had questioned the locus standi (the right to bring a legal action) of petitioner Mashkoor Hussain in bringing the case to court.

Mr Hussain, through his counsel advocate Nadeem Sarwar, argued that Mr Naqvi held the public office of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman at the time of his election as senator. Under clause 7(1) of the PCB constitution, Naqvi’s appointment was made, and clause 7(7) entitled him to remuneration, allowances, and privileges, making the office one of profit.

The petitioner maintained that clause 7(7) of the PCB constitution rendered the position an “office of profit”, thereby disqualifying Mr Naqvi from being elected as a senator under Article 63 (c) & (d) of the Constitution. These articles state that a person is disqualified from being a member of parliament if they hold an office of profit in the service of Pakistan.

Mr Hussain requested the court to declare Naqvi ineligible to continue his Senate membership while holding the position of PCB chairman.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2024