Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rashid filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Wednesday against the Election Act 2017, a law passed two days ago that paved the way for deposed PM Nawaz Sharif to become Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief again.
A day earlier, Zulfiqar Bhutta, a lawyer, had also moved the top court against the law.
According to Express News, Rashid submitted the plea through Barrister Farogh Naseem arguing that a law could be amended to accommodate someone who has been disqualified from public office.
He was referring to Nawaz, who was ousted by the apex court in July after an inquiry into his family’s offshore assets.
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The petitioner contended that the Election Act 2017 was in violation of Article 2A, 227 and 10A of the Constitution and the re-election of Nawaz as the chief of PML-N also violated the Constitution. Therefore, he argued, the law should be declared null and void.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Rashid said the law was meant to ensure that a man who had been disqualified by five judges of the Supreme Court was elected back to his party.
“There is no such precedent in history that an amendment is made in a law to go against the decision of the Supreme Court,” the AML chief said.
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“Can’t they [PML-N] find anyone else capable of running the party?” he questioned.
Earlier this week, the government managed to have the Election Reforms Bill 2017 passed by both the lower and upper houses of the parliament despite criticism from the opposition benches. President Mamnoon Hussain signed it into law late Monday night.
A controversial clause in the bill allows disqualified politicians to hold a public office or to lead a political party. Section 203 of the bill allows every citizen, except for government servants, to form a political party or become its office-bearer.
The post Sheikh Rashid also moves SC against Election Act 2017 appeared first on The Express Tribune.
Source: Tribune News | Sheikh Rashid also moves SC against Election Act 2017
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