Hearing on Tuesday: Decision to unseat Arbab challenged

Petitioner says decision is based on mala fide intentions.

KARACHI:

The decision of Sindh Assembly to unseat former Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim was challenged here on Saturday before Sindh High Court.

The petition was filed by Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, ex-senator and General Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League (Likeminded), through counsel Moulvi Iqbal Haider advocate. Referring to the resolution of the assembly carried by a majority vote, the petitioner prayed to the court to declare the same as mala fide and illegal. He submitted that Sindh Chief Minsiter and other senior leaders of PPP approached Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim for the withdrawal of candidature of Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi in recent Senate election and upon refusal they moved the impugned resolution on pure technical grounds while Dr Arbab still enjoys full support of his voters who are well aware of the circumstance which forced him to remain in “self exile.”

Citing a petition filed by a party worker, heard and decided by a Hyderabad circuit bench, the petitioner maintained that high court while disposing off the said application directed the IGP Sindh to provide protection to Dr Arbab if he arrives in the province for participation in Senate elections.

The court also barred the police and other authorities from registering any FIR against Dr Arbab, the petitioner said maintaining that since the general elections of 2008 and since the day when newly elected members took oath, Dr Arbab was subjected to humiliation, threats and intimidation. Due to these threats, the petitioner said, Dr Arbab was unable to return to Pakistan.

The petitioner alleging mala fide intensions and foul play, maintained that according to the report of Sindh Assembly, an application for condoning the absence of Dr Arbab has been pending as “deferred” and as such, the resolution was a show of annoyance and vengeance on the part of ruling party. The resolution be declared in violation of Articles 5, 9, 25 and 64 of the Constitution, the petitioner prayed.

The petitioner also prayed to the court to direct the Election Commission not to issue the notification unseating Arbab.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2012.