Bilawal, Zardari issued notices for representing PPP, PPPP

Petitioner asks why they carry out activities in the name of PPPP when it is not registered with ECP

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notices to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership, the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) and others over a plea challenging the seats of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari in the National Assembly.

The petitioner Iqbal Kazmi maintained that Bilawal and Zardari claim to be the chairmen of both PPP and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), while these are two separate parties.

Moreover, the Parliamentarians' electoral symbol is an arrow, whereas the PPP's is a sword. "Why do these leaders carry out activities in the name of PPPP when it is not even registered with the ECP?" questioned Kazmi.

The petitioner claimed that their political activities were based on malicious intentions, therefore they were not Sadiq and Amin [honest and trustworthy] anymore.

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The court restored the plea for hearing on the petitioner's request, as it had been disposed of previously due to the petitioner's continuous absence in the hearings.

Death sentence upheld

A separate bench, comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Saleem Jessar, rejected a convict's appeal against the death sentence awarded to him for murdering two citizens during a robbery bid in 2013.

The court ordered the upholding of the death sentence awarded to the accused, Munawar alias Dedo, remarking that those who are threats to the lives and properties of citizens did not deserve any leniency.

According to the prosecution, Munawar had killed two citizens during a robbery bid in 2013. He was handed over to the police by area residents.

Court issues notices

The court also issued notices to MPA Sharjeel Memon, ECP, federal Board of Revenue director-general (DG), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) DG and other relevant officials seeking replies in a plea requesting to declare Memon ineligible.

A bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Syed was hearing the case, where the petitioner, Kazmi, claimed that Memon had not submitted complete details of his assets to the ECP while filing his nomination papers, and was therefore not qualified to participate in the elections according to Article 62 of the Constitution.

He added that Memon had participated in the general elections from the PS-63 constituency in Hyderabad.

Plea for ineligibility

Separately, the bench sought a written reply from Advocate Hassan Sabir over a plea challenging the eligibility of Pak Sarzameen Party chairperson Mustafa Kamal to hold a seat in the provincial assembly.

Petitioner Salman Mujahid Baloch stated in the plea that Kamal was employed at the Karachi Medical and Dental College from 1994 to 2002, from where he was dismissed due to consistent absenteeism.

Baloch claimed that anyone who is terminated from their job is not eligible to contest the general elections under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The plea moved the court to strip Kamal of his seat in the Sindh Assembly and the perks he receives as an MPA. It also asked the court to stop him from carrying out political activities as the PSP chairperson.

Submitting a power of attorney in court, Kamal's counsel Advocate Sabir argued that Kamal was not a public office holder and could not be barred from working as the party chairperson. He added that the court had to identify whether or not the plea is maintainable. The court remarked that the case will be heard interpreted before a decision was made.

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Rejecting the petitioner's verbal request to bar Kamal from working, the court directed him to provide a copy of the plea to Sabir. The court also ordered Sabir to submit a written reply on March 18.

Illicit content

The same bench also heard a plea pertaining to the removal of illicit content from websites, issuing notices to the federal government and other parties and asking the assistant attorney general about actions taken by the Centre to resolve the issue.

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is the most influential agency regarding websites; the federal government should inquire that why unethical content is present on them," remarked Justice Mazhar, adding that the relevant officials should inform the court about what is being done in this regard. The court issued notices to the federal government and other nominated parties in the plea. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2020.