ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the petition seeking Prime Minister Imran Khan’s disqualification.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the petition that was filed by Barrister Daniyal Chaudhry last year.
During the hearing, Justice Ahsan remarked, “This petition is now ineffective.”
However, Barrister Chaudhry’s counsel stated, “One issue stated in the petition is still effective and we will take it up with the high court.”
To this, Justice Ahsan said, “No one has stopped you from approaching the high court.”
Barrister Chaudhry then withdrew his petition seeking the premier’s disqualification.
In his petition, Chaudhry upheld that PM Imran is not eligible to be a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) under Articles 62 and 63.
Petitions have also been filed in the past in the top court and Islamabad High Court seeking the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman’s disqualification.
Earlier, on Sunday it was reported that the apex court will take up crucial cases, including Prime Minister Imran Khan’s disqualification case, on Monday as CJP Saqib Nisar will be returning to the federal capital from his visit to Chitral.
CJP Nisar will head a four-judge larger bench to hear the cases which also include a case pertaining to the transfer of corruption reference against Sharif family and extradition of absconder Ishaq Dar from London.
The cases related to the advertisement campaign of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohamand Dams, money laundering through fake bank accounts and constitution of a medical board for Abdul Majeed and Abdul Ghani, alleged in fake bank accounts case, will be heard in the apex court.
Naqeebullah Mehsud’s murder case, financial loss incurred due to National Reconciliation Order (NRO) law case, Asghar Khan case and the case of dual nationality of government officers are also lined up to be taken by the Supreme Court from Monday.
Other cases entail suo motu notice against billboards in Lahore, usage of luxury vehicles by ministers beyond entitlement, the case of determining the boundary of Diamer-Bhasha Dam and the case pertaining to the gas and petrol price in the utility bills, will be heard by a four-judge bench in the coming week.
On Sunday, CJP Nisar, who is currently on a four-day visit to Chitral Valley, went to the District Headquarters Hospital and directed to overcome the shortage of medicines and staff within three months.
Moreover, CJP Nisar also took notice of the closure of the Lowari Tunnel in Chitral.
The case of Imran Khan’s disqualification had begun in 2016 when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Hanif Abbasi filed a petition against Imran accusing him of money laundering, concealing assets and receiving funds from foreign sources for his party.
In July 2017, Imran with the help of Jemima submitted the money trail; however, Abbasi’s counsel raised the issue of a London flat. The PTI chief ultimately submitted revised documents regarding financial details of offshore company Niazi Services Limited.
Soon after, the apex court ruled in favour of Imran Khan.
Earlier on August 2018, Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) senior judge Justice Athar Minallah recused himself from the bench set to hear the latest petition seeking the PM’s disqualification, saying that the petitioner belonged to former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s political party, where he [Justice Minallah] had served as a spokesperson.
Petitioner Abdul Wahab Baloch, a candidate for election from NA-53 belonging to the Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDP) has objected to Khan not declaring his ‘daughter’ Tyrian in the nomination papers.
from Pakistan Today
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