Sunni Ittehad Council not a parliamentary party: SHC

Council won no seat in elections, PTI-backed independents joined it after polls

KARACHI:

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court, led by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, heard the case challenging the recognition of Sunni Ittehad Council as a parliamentary party, and dismissed the petition.

The petitioner's lawyer contended in front of the court, that a parliamentary party is defined as one that has secured a position in either the national or provincial assembly, as per the Constitution's Article 63A.

The Sunni Ittehad Council did not win a single seat in any of the assemblies that disqualifies it to be considered as a parliamentary party under the law.

Independent candidates backed by PTI joined the Sunni Ittehad Council after their victory, which is also not permissible as an independent candidate cannot join a party that did not win a seat in the election under the law.

CJ observed that the speaker has the authority to determine which parties are parliamentary and which are not, not the court.

The court dismissed the petition, instructing Maulvi Iqbal Haider to consult the speaker.

Mari Jalbani killings

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sanghi heard a petition regarding killing of civilians in Sakrand Mari Jalbani and request to arrest the accused persons, issued orders to identify all the accused and submit a report of judicial investigation to the court.

Prosecutor General Sindh Faiz Shah appeared along with DIG Nawabshah. Prosecutor General Sindh stated that two accused have been identified. More progress will follow soon.

Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sanghi remarked that only identification has been made. When will the arrests be made? The DIG said that they are trying to trace the accused. Various measures are being taken.

Prosecutor general took the stand that more persons will be identified in the light of geo-fencing report. Challan should be allowed to be presented in the subordinate court so that the case can be heard. This petition is for a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. The court had directed not to submit the challan of the case. The court extended the ongoing injunction regarding non-submission of the case challan.

It may be recalled that four people were killed in the firing by the law enforcement agencies during an operation conducted to apprehend robbers in Sakrand. Following the incident, a petition was filed by the lawyers for a transparent investigation into the tragedy.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2024.