Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday dismissed the objections raised by the Supreme Court Registrar Office on nine identical petitions challenging the Elections Act, 2017, and directed to fix these pleas before a bench for hearing.

The petitions were filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad of Awami Muslim League, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamshed Dasti and the Pakistan Justice Party, challenging the Elections Act, 2017, a controversial election law enacted by parliament last month, enabling ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to become the head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The SC registrar, however, had raised objections over these petitions, directing the petitioners to approach the appropriate forum. The petitioners then filed an appeal against the objections raised by the registrar.

The CJP on Wednesday heard these appeals in his chamber and after hearing the arguments of petitioners’ lawyers, dismissed the objections and directed to fix these petitions before a bench. The chief justice ruled that the bench would decide whether the petitions were maintainable or not. The Elections Bill, 2017, commonly known as electoral reforms bill, was approved by the Senate and subsequently signed into law by the president on October 2, 2017. A controversial clause in the bill allowed disqualified politicians to hold a public office or to lead a political party.

Published in Daily Times, November 23^rd 2017.