Eligibility challenge: LHC judge refuses to hear plea
Petitioner Waqas Aslam said that Hassaan was not eligible to contest the election for mayor’s office
LAHORE:
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday refused to hear a petition challenging eligibility of Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan as a candidate for Lahore mayor’s office. Citing personal reasons, the judge referred the petition to the chief justice. Petitioner Waqas Aslam said that Hassaan was not eligible to contest the election for mayor’s office. Through his counsel Sheraz Zaka, the petitioner said that Hassaan was not eligible even to contest the election for union council chairman’s office because he was heading a government entity at the time of local council elections. He said that a government functionary must have resigned from his job at least two years before contesting any election, but Hassaan had resigned from his public office after his election as union council chairman. He said that Hassaan was not eligible to contest the election for union council chairman’s office therefore he should be disqualified as union council chairman and barred from contesting the election for Lahore mayor’s office.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2016.
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday refused to hear a petition challenging eligibility of Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan as a candidate for Lahore mayor’s office. Citing personal reasons, the judge referred the petition to the chief justice. Petitioner Waqas Aslam said that Hassaan was not eligible to contest the election for mayor’s office. Through his counsel Sheraz Zaka, the petitioner said that Hassaan was not eligible even to contest the election for union council chairman’s office because he was heading a government entity at the time of local council elections. He said that a government functionary must have resigned from his job at least two years before contesting any election, but Hassaan had resigned from his public office after his election as union council chairman. He said that Hassaan was not eligible to contest the election for union council chairman’s office therefore he should be disqualified as union council chairman and barred from contesting the election for Lahore mayor’s office.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2016.