CJP allows petitions challenging Election Amendment Act

Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directs authorities to set up hearing of the case

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday allowed a petition challenging the Election (Amendment) Act, 2017, dismissing the registrar office’s directions for petitioners to contact concerned forums.

During an in-chamber appeal, the CJP directed hearings to be arranged pertaining to the appeals filed against the approval of Election (Amendment) Act, 2017 by Awami Muslim League [AML] chief Sheikh Rasheed, Member National Assembly Jamshed Dasti, and nine others.

The registrar office had previously expressed reservations against all 11 requests, upon which the petitioners requested an in-chamber hearing with the CJP.



The bill – passed by the Senate – sought that a person who is not eligible to be elected as a member of parliament on account of being disqualified by a court of law should be barred from becoming an office bearer of any political party.

On Tuesday, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government managed to block the opposition’s move in the National Assembly to prevent a disqualified person from heading a political party and paved the way for deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif to continue calling the shots in his eponymous PML-N.

In the 342- member house, the ruling PML-N garnered the support of 163 MNAs against the “Election (Amendment) Act, 2017”, presented in the house by Naveed Qamar – the parliamentary leader of the leading opposition party in the National Assembly, the PPP. As many as 98 lawmakers – all from opposition benches, voted in favour of the bill.

Asim can’t fly abroad

Pakistan People’s Party leader Dr Asim Hussain on Wednesday filed a contempt petition against the Interior Ministry for failing to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

In the appeal, the former petroleum minister has named Interior Secretary Arshad Mirza, ECL Additional Secretary Sher Afghan Khan, and ECL Section Officer Qalandar Khan as respondents.



Dr Hussain claims he approached the Interior Ministry after the ministry failed to remove his name from the ECL in light of the November 16 Supreme Court direction allowing him to travel abroad for medical treatment. His counsel made another request to the interior secretary on November 17, but “no action was taken”. Another letter was sent on November 20 to the section officer managing the ECL, but the issue remains pending.

The petition asks the SC to punish respondents for committing contempt of court, requesting for the removal of Dr Hussain’s name from the ECL, and for permission to travel to the UK for medical treatment.

On November 16, the SC had allowed the doctor to travel abroad for medical treatment after receiving a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding the removal of his name from the ECL.

In August 2015, the Zardari aide was detained during a raid at the Higher Education Commission office in the Clifton area of Karachi over alleged embezzlement of funds.