Imran challenges law allowing Sharif to become PML-N chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Electoral Reforms Act 2017.

The PTI chief filed a petition through his counsel, assailing the controversial law, a clause of which allows a person ineligible to be member of parliament to head a political party.

The petition states the top court disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case and subsequently he had to relinquish his party position in compliance with the election laws.

However, it argues, the ruling party bulldozed through the National Assembly the Electoral Reforms Act 2017, also known as Election Act, with an amendment in the election laws to accommodate Sharif as the PML-N chief.

The amendment is in contrast to the constitution as a person who is disqualified to be member of parliament cannot hold a position in a political party, the petition further argues.

The PTI chief has submitted in the petition that since the amendment is in contravention of the Political Parties Order 2002 and Article 175 and 204 of the constitution, it should be set aside. He has pleaded to the court to declare clause 9, 10 and 203 of the Act as unlawful.

Over half a dozen constitutional petitions including the one filed in Supreme Court by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed, have been in the apex court and high courts against the election law, which paved the way for Nawaz Sharif to head his party.