PM’s disqualification: Plea filed in SC for formation of larger bench

The petition will be forwarded to the chief justice on Wednesday, and a decision is also expected by then

ISLAMABAD: Advocate Gohar Nawaz Sindhu, one of the applicants in the case seeking PM Nawaz Sharif's disqualification from the National Assembly for giving a false statement, on Tuesday moved a plea for constituting a larger bench to hear the case. 

Three petitioners – Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member Ishaq Khakwani and lawyer Gohar Nawaz Sindhu – are seeking the premier’s disqualification under Article 62 (f) of the Constitution for giving a ‘false’ statement regarding the role of army chief in resolving the current political crises in the country.

Advocate Sindhu told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that he had filed a request in the Supreme Court to form a larger bench to hear the case. Currently, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja is hearing the petition

Sindhu added that interpretation of Articles 62, 63, among others was also required.

Following a brief hearing of the plea on Monday, the case was adjourned until October 2 due to shortage of time.

The Express Tribune has learnt that both, PTI and PML-Q, are considering following Sindhu's lead to file a petition requesting the constitution of a larger bench to hear the case. Both parties may submit an application in this regard as soon as Wednesday.

If disqualified, Nawaz will not be the first member of the national assembly to be found afoul of the law. A number of parliamentarians have previously been disqualified on same grounds during the tenure of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

PTI and PML-Q counsel Irfan Qadir says their case is strong as there are a number of precedents backing their argument.

Advocate Sindhu added that a decision on his petition is expected to be forwarded to the Chief Justice on Wednesday who will then decide whether a larger bench will be formed or not.