IHC terms ECP's disqualification of PTI leaders 'unlawful'

IHC terms ECP’s disqualification of PTI leaders ‘unlawful’

Author: Agencies

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday declared unlawful the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision to disqualify Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Umar Amin Gandapur and Shah Muhammad Wazir from contesting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa local bodies polls.

Umar Amin Gandapur, brother of Federal Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, was declared eligible to contest the mayoral election from Dera Ismail Khan.

The court further maintained that the former KP minister for transport Shah Muhammad Wazir was also eligible to contest elections. However, the court stated that the disqualification of PTI candidate Mamun Rasheed from Bakkakhel will remain in place, says a news report.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued a summary judgment.

Earlier in the day, the IHC had reserved its judgment on disqualification petitions filed against PTI leaders Umar Amin Gandapur and Shah Muhammad Wazir.

The court stated that Umar’s brother, Ali Amin Gandapur, ran his election campaign. However, instead of fining him first – which is typically the first stage at this violation – the ECP directly disqualified him.

It questioned how the ECP could skip the first step.

Earlier this week, the ECP had disqualified Umar Amin Gandapur, from running for mayor in Dera Ismail Khan for flouting the code of conduct of the local government polls.

The ECP also barred Ali Amin Gandapur from addressing any gathering or taking part in any political activity in the district.

Justice Minallah while hearing Wazir’s plea had maintained that a minister picking up a ballot box during elections was a violation.

“The entire political party is responsible for such a serious violation,” Justice Minallah said, adding that such allegations were not trivial.

However, Wazir’s lawyer stated that the allegations against him were made by the opposing candidate and were false.

He claimed that the petitioner, Mohabbat Khan, was not present at the site of the incident, but lodged a complaint nonetheless, adding that he was a member of the opposition party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).