The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday returned a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Zartaj Gul challenging her disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ruling that the matter does not fall within its jurisdiction. The court directed her to approach the relevant forum.
However, the court extended its earlier stay order restraining the ECP from taking further action against PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Senator Shibli Faraz, and MNA Abdul Latif in their disqualification cases. The hearing was adjourned until September 17.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Mohammad Faheem Wali heard multiple connected petitions. During proceedings, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, along with other counsel for the petitioners, argued that the ECP had disqualified the lawmakers through a single notification dated August 5, following convictions handed down by an anti-terrorism court (ATC). He contended that the ECP acted in haste, without granting a hearing, and that the petitioners had already filed appeals against their sentences.
Justice Arshad Ali questioned the ECP's decision to issue one sweeping notification, asking, "Was the Election Commission in a hurry?" He also grilled the government's lawyers over their failure to implement arrest orders, noting that the court had only granted protective bail for three days.
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