Senate’s move: Reference seeking Malik’s disqualification rejected
Haider objected to the candidature of Rehman Malik, when he filed papers for a seat in Senate in July after resigning.
ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Ali Baloch has rejected a reference seeking the disqualification of Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
Officials informed on Friday, that a reference filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider Advocate was disposed of by Baloch in his capacity as acting chairman Senate on October 1. “Yes, I heard that my reference seeking Malik’s disqualification has been rejected by Sabir Baloch,” Haider affirmed.
Additionally, Haider told The Express Tribune, that he also filed an application in the Supreme Court, which raises the question of whether, under the ambit of Article 163(2) of the Constitution, Rehman Malik is able to contest Senate elections, given that he has been convicted by a Rawalpindi accountability court on two references and that the apex court has not suspended the conviction either.
Haider objected to the candidature of Rehman Malik, when he filed papers for a seat in Senate in July after resigning.
He said that at the time of scrutiny on July 23, he raised the objection that a convicted person cannot contest elections under the Constitution. After nomination papers were accepted, he filed a disqualification reference with Senate.
A senior official of the Senate also confirmed the move saying, “Sabir Baloch disposed of the reference on October 1 in his capacity as acting chairman.” To a question, he said he was shocked to know that an acting chairman enjoys powers to dispose of a disqualification reference and regretted that the decision was not officially communicated to him.
About the Supreme Court’s order regarding Malik’s qualification, the senior official said that the process is under scrutiny by Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari, who is likely to pass a decision in the second week of this month.
The apex court sent a reference against Malik on cheating the court in a dual nationality case last month.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.
Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Ali Baloch has rejected a reference seeking the disqualification of Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
Officials informed on Friday, that a reference filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider Advocate was disposed of by Baloch in his capacity as acting chairman Senate on October 1. “Yes, I heard that my reference seeking Malik’s disqualification has been rejected by Sabir Baloch,” Haider affirmed.
Additionally, Haider told The Express Tribune, that he also filed an application in the Supreme Court, which raises the question of whether, under the ambit of Article 163(2) of the Constitution, Rehman Malik is able to contest Senate elections, given that he has been convicted by a Rawalpindi accountability court on two references and that the apex court has not suspended the conviction either.
Haider objected to the candidature of Rehman Malik, when he filed papers for a seat in Senate in July after resigning.
He said that at the time of scrutiny on July 23, he raised the objection that a convicted person cannot contest elections under the Constitution. After nomination papers were accepted, he filed a disqualification reference with Senate.
A senior official of the Senate also confirmed the move saying, “Sabir Baloch disposed of the reference on October 1 in his capacity as acting chairman.” To a question, he said he was shocked to know that an acting chairman enjoys powers to dispose of a disqualification reference and regretted that the decision was not officially communicated to him.
About the Supreme Court’s order regarding Malik’s qualification, the senior official said that the process is under scrutiny by Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari, who is likely to pass a decision in the second week of this month.
The apex court sent a reference against Malik on cheating the court in a dual nationality case last month.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.