Yet another petition filed against controversial Election Bill 2017

ISLAMABAD: A petition challenging a controversial clause of the Election Bill 2017 that allowed a disqualified person to head a political party was filed in the Islamabad High Court on Saturday.  

Naming federal law secretary, Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, and others as respondents, the petitioner has pleaded with the court to strike down the legislative clause that paved way for disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif to become the party’s head.

The petitioner argued that the clause of the Bill was against national interests and constitutional provisions. Thus, it should be declared as unconstitutional and Sharif be barred from discharging his responsibilities as the party head.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had bulldozed the Election Bill 2017 through the National Assembly and changed the party constitution to re-accommodate Nawaz Sharif.

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the law.

Advocate Zulifqar Ahmed Bhutta had also filed a petition against the Bill, contending that any individual who was disqualified by the Supreme Court or any court for not being honest and truthful will be able to control legislation and voting in the National Assembly as members of parliament will not be able to vote on important matters of their own free will for they will be bound to the decision of the head of the party.

He, thus, prayed to the court to declare the law as unconstitutional.