Political deadlock: AG’s response called for petition seeking dissolution of assemblies

Petitioner presses for a national govt representing all political parties.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notice to the attorney general and provincial advocate general to file comments on a petition seeking the dissolution of the federal and provincial assemblies and imposition of emergency in view of the prevailing political crisis.

A division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, directed them to file such comments by September 2.

The petition was filed by Advocate Moulvi Iqbal Haider, who had named Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Election Commission of Pakistan, secretaries of the defence and interior ministries, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek chairperson Dr Tahirul Qadri and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairperson as respondents.

Haider said that the interior minister had reportedly admitted on the National Assembly floor that around 50,000 to 60,000 votes cast at various constituencies on May 11, 2013, could not be verified through the thumb-impressions checks conducted by NADRA.

Advocate Haider, who is also the chairperson of the Awami Himayat Tehrik, claimed that in view of the current political crisis, the constitutional machinery had broken down throughout the country. He demanded that the incumbent federal and provincial assemblies be dissolved and a national government, comprising all political parties, be formed with the assistance of the armed forces.

On last date of hearing, the judges had abstained from issuing any notice and directed the petitioner to first make arguments on the maintainability of the petition.

During Tuesday's hearing, Haider argued the matter on maintainability of the plea.

After the preliminary hearing, the judges issued notices to the attorney general and Sindh AG to file comments by September 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.