ECP rejects petitions seeking removal of Nawaz's name from PML-N

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday announced its verdict in a case pertaining to removal of former premier Nawaz Sharif’s name from the title of his political party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), ARY News reported.

The electoral body, while announcing the verdict, rejected all four petitions seeking removal of the name of party’s supreme leader from its title, meaning the PML-N can continue to work as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The petitioners sought cancellation of party’s registration with ECP on the pretext that a party cannot continue to work with the name of Nawaz Sharif, a person disqualified from holding public office by a court of law.

Supreme Court of Pakistan had disqualified Nawaz Sharif as PML-N leader in a judgment that referred to his earlier disqualification as prime minister by the apex court in July last year and ruled that Sharif cannot hold the party office.

The apex court had also declared all party decision made by Sharif as null and void.

The party, on the other hand, not only didn’t change its name but elected Nawaz Sharif as its ‘leader for life’ in February.