PM’s disqualification: PTI requests SC to reconsider plea deemed frivolous

PTI challenges registrar’s decision terming it insulting

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf (PTI) has challenged the Supreme Court registrar’s order to return the party’s petition seeking disqualification of the prime minister in the wake of the Panama Papers controversy.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan through senior counsel Hamid Khan and Naeem Bukhari filed the appeal on Monday in the apex court, requesting that the order by the Assistant Registrar (Civil-II) dated August 30 be set aside and the petition admitted and fixed for hearing.

The party had filed a constitutional petition for the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Captain (retd) Safdar for withholding information about offshore companies disclosed in the Panama Papers, but the Supreme Court registrar returned the plea, declaring it ‘frivolous’.

In its appeal, the party has stated that declaring its plea ‘frivolous’ was “insulting, degrading and defamatory”, and clearly reflected the lack of experience, complete absence of application of mind.

The plea states the registrar’s objection also insulted the entire legal fraternity enrolled as advocates and senior advocates of the Supreme Court. The word ‘frivolous’ can only be related to a plea when it is clearly insufficient on its face, the PTI contended.

The plea argues that it is the foremost duty of every officer of the SC registry to ensure the institution is not scandalised by their conduct.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2016.