Masroor Jhangvi’s election: Court seeks ECP’s comments on disqualification plea
Lawmaker was elected on PP-178 Jhang in by-polls held on December 1.
Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi, a cleric whose father was one of the most infamous sectarian figures, uses his mobile phone while meeting residents in Jhang December 16, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court has sought the comments of the election commission on the eligibility of MPA Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi, whose name is on the terror watch list.
Masroor, son of the founder of banned sectarian outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, won the by-election in Jhang district as an independent candidate in December last year, contesting the elections despite having his name on the 4th Schedule list of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
On Tuesday, LHC’s Justice Atir Mahmood heard the petition Muzzafar Abbasi, seeking disqualification of the provincial lawmaker. The judge put off further hearing till April 19 after seeking comments from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The petitioner has submitted that Masroor participated in the PP-178 Jhang by-polls despite being booked in 17 criminal cases and having his name in the 4th Schedule of ATA. He contended the lawmaker could not be allowed to contest the elections in such a situation.
Muzzafar said he filed an application against Masroor before the election commission but his application was dismissed ‘illegally’. He requested the court to order the lawmaker’s disqualification after accepting his petition.
Masroor was elected MPA in by-elections held on December 1, 2016 by defeating PML-N, PPP and PTI candidates. He obtained 48,563 votes while the PML- N candidate, Haji Nasir, managed to poll 35,669 votes. The seat had fallen vacant after a Supreme Court decision that disqualified PML-N’s Rashida Yaqoob for concealing her assets.
Rashida was elected in the 2013 general elections but the runner-up, chief of the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Muhammad Ahmad Saeed Ludhianvi, challenged her victory.
A two-judge LHC bench restrained both Rashida and Ludhianvi from contesting the December by-poll.
Although a full bench of the LHC on November 29 allowed Ludhianvi to contest the election when he filed an appeal, he opted to support Masroor, his covering candidate.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2017.
The Lahore High Court has sought the comments of the election commission on the eligibility of MPA Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi, whose name is on the terror watch list.
Masroor, son of the founder of banned sectarian outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, won the by-election in Jhang district as an independent candidate in December last year, contesting the elections despite having his name on the 4th Schedule list of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
On Tuesday, LHC’s Justice Atir Mahmood heard the petition Muzzafar Abbasi, seeking disqualification of the provincial lawmaker. The judge put off further hearing till April 19 after seeking comments from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The petitioner has submitted that Masroor participated in the PP-178 Jhang by-polls despite being booked in 17 criminal cases and having his name in the 4th Schedule of ATA. He contended the lawmaker could not be allowed to contest the elections in such a situation.
Muzzafar said he filed an application against Masroor before the election commission but his application was dismissed ‘illegally’. He requested the court to order the lawmaker’s disqualification after accepting his petition.
Masroor was elected MPA in by-elections held on December 1, 2016 by defeating PML-N, PPP and PTI candidates. He obtained 48,563 votes while the PML- N candidate, Haji Nasir, managed to poll 35,669 votes. The seat had fallen vacant after a Supreme Court decision that disqualified PML-N’s Rashida Yaqoob for concealing her assets.
Rashida was elected in the 2013 general elections but the runner-up, chief of the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Muhammad Ahmad Saeed Ludhianvi, challenged her victory.
A two-judge LHC bench restrained both Rashida and Ludhianvi from contesting the December by-poll.
Although a full bench of the LHC on November 29 allowed Ludhianvi to contest the election when he filed an appeal, he opted to support Masroor, his covering candidate.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2017.