Pm’s disqualification: LHC seeks further arguments on Dec 26

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has directed both sides to come up with further arguments on a petition filed by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

On Wednesday, government’s lawyer Salman Butt opposed the petition, contending it did not come under the LHC jurisdiction. The matter in question took place in Islamabad and the petitioner belongs to Balochistan instead of Punjab, he added.

The counsel pleaded the petitioner should be directed to approach the relevant forum.

Petitioner’s counsel Hamid Khan opposed the arguments, however, saying the National Assembly speaker dismissed the reference filed against the PM in a one-sided decision. While the speaker must be unbiased, his act proved that he was not, Advocate Hamid argued.

He added the NA speaker was bound to send the reference to the election commission within 30 days but he did not.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2016.