SC to rule on Sheikh Rasheed’s political fate tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan will announce its verdict in disqualification petition against Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed over concealment of assets.

Sheikh Rashid’s qualification as a member of the National Assembly was challenged by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shakil Awan.

Awan claimed in his plea that NA-55 lawmaker mis-declared his assets in his nomination papers and owned the error as well.

Awan’s counsel argued before the three-member bench that according to the Representation of People’s Act, it is necessary to accurately declare all of one’s assets before contesting elections.

Sheikh Rasheed’s lawyer, however, admitted that his client erroneously mis-declared the assets in question.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a member of the bench, observed that it has been settled in the landmark verdict in a case famously called Panamagate that an advertent or inadvertent  mistake could led to disqualification.

He said the Panamagate case actually involved the issue of ownership of the Sharif family’s London flats, but former premier Nawaz Sharif was disqualified over Iqama ( UAE work permit).

The question is whether a lawmaker stands disqualified if it is proved that he or she committed an error while filling the nomination papers or his assets, observed Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, who headed the bench.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, reserved the verdict on March 20 after hearing arguments from both sides.