LHC dismisses petition against Pervez Musharraf

The petitioner had called for barring the former president from heading his party

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) judge Shahid Karim on Friday dismissed a petition seeking removal of former military ruler Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf as head of his political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).



Petitioner Muhammad Afaq had challenged Musharraf’s status as head of his party and contended that in line with the Supreme Court order that has barred the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from heading his party, Musharraf should also be removed from the position of the APML chief.

 However, LHC judge dismissed the petition as non-maintainable, saying that neither the petitioner is the affected person nor he has contacted the relevant forum. Earlier on March 29, Justice Shahid Karim also dismissed an application seeking early proceedings on his petition.

At that time, the petitioner had asked the court to initiate early proceedings on his petition, claiming that Musharraf had been disqualified under Article 62 and 63 for participating in 2013 election.

He had said under the political party’s order and rules, no one who is disqualified, can become the party president. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has also been removed from the slot of party president after his disqualification, he had added.