SC hears petitions seeking PM's disqualification

Three-judge bench of the apex court summoned the text of the prime minister’s August 29 speech in Parliament, saying any words uttered in assembly are public property and should be available to the people.

The bench hearing identical petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Ishaq Khakwani, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Gohar Sindhu Advocate seeking disqualification of the prime minister.

The petitioners have requested the court to disqualify Nawaz under Article 62 (f) of the Constitution, claiming he gave a false statement during a joint sitting of the Parliament over the role of the army in negotiations with PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to end their sit-ins.

The petitioners had said that the prime minister told the House on Aug 29 that he had asked the Army Chief  General Raheel Sharif to act as a mediator and guarantor between the government and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for ending the political deadlock.

Petitioner Gohar Sindhu Advocate said the prime minister continued to stand by his statement, adding that not only the premier, but also the interior minister had issued false statements on the matter.

Whether the petitioners could not obtain a record of the prime minister’s speech on the day, Justice Khawaja asked. Sindhu said he had filed a request for the text but so far it had not been granted.

Justice Khawaja said that the Supreme Court’s research staff had also not been able to obtain the text.