ECP mulls over registration of PML-N under disqualified person

Election body summons deposed premier Nawaz Sharif on July 9

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) summoned deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif after raising objection over Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) registration under the name of a disqualified parliamentarian.

 

The ECP sent the summons to Nawaz's Jati Umra residence. The deposed premier is in London currently tending to his ailing wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.

Nawaz and daughter Maryam have pledged to return to the country once she gains consciousness. Begum Kulsoom suffered a cardiac arrest on June 15 and has been on the ventilator since.

In February, an application was submitted to the ECP asking for the PML-N to be de-notified, arguing that "a party can't be registered with the name of a disqualified person."



The request which was submitted by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Advocate Makhdoom Mohammad Niaz Inqilabi stated that a disqualified person cannot lead or become a member of a political party, however “Nawaz Sharif is incessantly presiding the gatherings from party’s platform.”

The plea further stated that PML-N is registered under Nawaz’s name in the ECP. Now that Nawaz stands disqualified, the party cannot be proven registered with the name of a disqualified person.

“Thereby, ECP must denotify PML-N until the Supreme Court’s decision of July 28, 2017, is suspended following a review appeal. Until the decision isn’t suspended, under current circumstances, PML-N cannot remain enrolled at the Election Commission,” the application read further.