ISLAMABAD: A petition challenging the controversial Sections of the Election Act 2017 was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday.
Advocate Azhar Siddiqui petitioned the apex court, requesting it to annul 13 Sections of the Act, which he argued undermined the Constitution’s spirit.
He contended that lawmakers through the Act have encroached upon the autonomy of the top electoral body as it cannot even issue a mere notification independently.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was made subordinate to ministries and departments in violation of the Constitution, he added.
Siddiqui said disqualifying parliamentarians over corruption charges for just five years is also in contrast to the constitutional provisions.
He argued that installing a disqualified person as head of political party is negates Constitution’s spirit.
Over half a dozen constitutional petitions have been filed in the apex court and high courts against the Election Bill 2017, which paved the way for Nawaz Sharif to head his party. The first petition was filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed in the Supreme Court.
The petitioners contended that the Election Bill 2017, a clause of which allows a disqualified lawmaker to hold office of a political party, is against constitutional provisions and teachings of Islam. Under the law, a disqualified person has been given powers to get the law of his choice enacted by the legislators associated with his/her party, they added.
