ISLAMABAD, April 14: Maulvi Iqbal Haider, head of the Awami Himayat Tehrik, on Wednesday filed a constitutional petition challenging the 17th Amendment and requesting the court to suspend the operation of the article which requires the president to shed his military uniform on or before Dec 31, 2004.

The petition filed under Article 184(3) asks the court to declare that Article 41(7)(2) ultra vires to the Constitution. The petitioner stated that Article 43, read with Article 47 of the Constitution provided the method for the removal of the president.

The petitioner requested the court to declare that operation of Article 41(7)(2) with regard to Article 63(1)(d) could not be applied to the president.