Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday dismissed petitions challenging the candidature of aspiring lawmakers and observed that the electoral process will be derailed of candidates are disqualified close to polling date.
A two-member bench heard a petition filed by Malik Ajmad Mehmood seeking disqualification of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Anjum Aqeel on the basis of an on-going inquiry initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in 2011.
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The petitioner claimed that Aqeel, candidate for NA-54 (Islamabad Capital Territory III), is a defaulter of multiple institutions. Dismissing the appeal, Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh directed Mehmood to file the application after the general elections.
The bench also heard a petition against PP-240 independent candidate Fazl Mehmood. The petition, filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Mumtaz Ahmed Muharwi, claimed that Mehmood had been disqualified earlier in 2008 for having a fake degree.
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The court further observed that disqualification at this stage would mean reprinting of ballot papers which would cause a delay in the electoral process. The apex court dismissed the petition.
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