SC concludes hearing of petitions challenging Election Reforms Act 2017

ISLAMABAD: A three-judge bench of Supreme Court , headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, on Wednesday concluded the hearing of petitions filed against the Elections Act 2017.

Several petitioners moved the top court for an injunction against the controversial act, which paved the way for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to become the president of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) despite his disqualification in the Panama Papers case.

The case has been wrapped up and the bench is likely to either reserve or announce a decision in the evening following a recess.

During the court proceedings today, Justice Nisar observed that the media has misreported the bench’s remarks, as what he said, the country’s leadership is respectable.

He maintained that the top court has no grounds for making unbecoming remarks and using words like godfather and thief, while alluding to Nawaz Sharif’s criticism.

The top court’s registrar office had returned a petition against the election law filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in October last year by raising objections.

The PTI chief had pleaded to the apex court to set aside the controversial Election Reforms Act 2017 that led to Nawaz Sharif’s reinstatement as the party chief following his disqualification by the supreme court.

The Registrar Office returned the petition, saying that the petitioner did not approach the appropriate forum to avail legal remedy available to him before approaching the top court.