PPO amendment ‘annuls constitution’: SC bar chief

Rasheed Rizvi also says disqualification under articles 62, 63 is not lifelong

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Rasheed A Rizvi has said that amending the Political Parties Order (PPO) and paving a way for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to once again take the helm of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz amounts to the annulment of the constitution.

Last week, the Senate passed a bill which changed the conditions of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution for becoming the head of a political party.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court building, Rizvi said the SCBA meeting will meet on October 7 and will discuss whether or not to challenge the amendment in the PPO in the apex court.



He also opposed PTI chief Imran Khan’s demand to involve the Supreme Court in the appointment of the next NAB chairman, adding that the appointment is in the domain of the executive and the judiciary should not be involved in such matters.

The SCBA president also stated that the disqualification of an MNA under Article 62 (1) (f) is not lifelong as a there is a precedent in SC judgment from 1994 wherein it was observed that people who are Sadiq and Ameen one day may not be so forever, and vice versa.

Rizvi also expressed concern over the rising power of sectarian religious political parties, pointing to a candidate in the recent NA 120 by-election, adding that it is a matter of concern that such parties can get so many votes in a progressive city such as Lahore.