SC says no polls for convicts

The Supreme Court remarked on Wednesday that a convict could not contest the election until the decision of that person’s sentencing was suspended and that a case, which did not involve any criminal aspect, should not be proceeded with if the petitioner died.

Heading a three-member bench, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa gave these remarks, while hearing two separate matters. The bench disposed of an application of former Balochistan finance adviser Khalid Langove for the court’s to participate in the general elections.

During the hearing of Langove appeal, the chief Justice passed critical remarks about the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying that the graft buster had become a facilitator of corruption, as it did not appeal against a lesser punishment in a mega corruption case.

Chief Justice Isa remarked that truckload of money was seized from Khalid Langove’s house which was not made from business or property. However, he was sentenced to only 26-months. He wondered why NAB did not appeal against this lesser, asking was NAB under his control.

The petitioner's lawyer said that Langove’s wanted to contest in the general elections therefore, the decision should be suspended. The chief justice remarked that such people should be kept away from contesting elections. These people were the enemies of Balochistan, he added.

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The chief justice further remarked that no one would have been punished so little in the history of NAB. He further remarked that in small cases, NAB filed an immediate appeal. The chief justice also said that NAB had become a facilitator of corruption.

In a separate case, the bench upheld the disqualification of former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) lawmaker Khadim Hussain on the basis of possessing fake degree. The chief justice said that the case had ended with the death of the applicant and it was better not to proceed with it anymore.

The petitioner's lawyer said that the heirs of the petitioner insisted that the case should be heard to remove the stain of fake degree on the petitioner. He added that Khadim Hussain received his education under the name of Muhammad Akhtar Khadim.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that if the petitioner was alive, something could have been proved but now after his death, how could his relatives prove his correct name. Muhammad Akhtar Khadim aka Khadim Hussain was elected member of the National Assembly in 2008 but was disqualified by a court.