Imran moves SC against law allowing Nawaz to resume role of PML-N chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, on Monday, challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) the Election Act 2017, a law passed last month which paved the way for deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif to become the head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Nawaz was re-elected on October 3 as the party leader unopposed only a day after President Mamnoon Hussain signed the controversial election law, allowing a disqualified premier to be elected as party chief.

Nawaz Sharif re-elected PML-N president

In his constitutional petition, the PTI chief through his counsel, Babar Awan, prayed the apex court to repeal the Election Reforms Act 2017 which allowed a disqualified person to become the head of a political party.

“…this hon’ble court may kindly be pleased to declare that all those provisions/sections including sections 9, 10, 203 of the Election Act, 2017, are non-est which are ultra vires of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973,” the petition read.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and others have also challenged the law but the top court’s registrar office raised objections and has returned their petitions.

Govt unblocks Sharif’s path to party leadership

The Election Bill 2017, commonly known as electoral reforms bill was approved by the Senate and subsequently signed into law by the president late on October 2. A controversial clause in the bill allows disqualified politicians to hold a public office or to lead a political party. Section 203 of the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017 allows every citizen, except for government servants, to form a political party or become its office-bearer.

The bill augments eight sets of laws governing the electoral process in Pakistan including the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002. According to the PPO, Nawaz had to step down as PML-N chief after his disqualification by the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.

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