Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: In pursuance to the Supreme Court order in Panamagate case, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued disqualification notification of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif as Member of National Assembly (MNA).

“Consequent upon disqualification of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif from being a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) by Supreme Court of Pakistan vide judgment dated 28.7.2017 passed in CMA No 4978 and 2939 of 2017 in constitutional petition No 29-30/2016 & 3/2017 titled Imran Khan Niazi, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Siraj-ul-Haq respectively versus Mian Nawaz Sharif and others in terms of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, Section 12(2)(f) and 99(f) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (ROPA), the Election Commission of Pakistan hereby de-notifies Muahmmad Nawaz Sharif as Member of National Assembly from Constituency No NA120-Lahore-III with immediate effect and in consequences thereof the Notification No F.2(40)/2013-Cord dated the 22nd May, 2013 to the extent of declaring him as returned candidate from National Assembly Constituency No.

NA-120 Lahore-III stands rescinded with effect from 28.07.2017,” the notification issued by the ECP reads. The development came hours after the top court disqualified PM Nawaz from his office following a damning corruption probe into his family wealth and ordering a criminal investigation of his family.

It is the second time in Pakistan’s 70-year history that the Supreme Court has disqualified a sitting prime minister. In 2012 then-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was disqualified over contempt of court charges for refusing to reopen a corruption case against then president Asif Ali Zardari.

Published in Daily Times, July 29^th , 2017.