SC declares Sharif brothers qualified to contest elections

[Waqas 48]

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC), after hearing review petitions filed by Sharif brothers against their disqualification, declared Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif qualified for contesting elections.

SC five-member bench led by Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jilani and comprising of Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Sheikh Hakim, Justice Moosa K Leghari and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing from May 11 the review petitions filed by Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif against their disqualification on the conviction in plane hijacking case and default case respectively.

Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) in its verdict had declared Nawaz Sharif, a convict in plane hijacking case, disqualified for contesting elections, while a petition was filed in the Election Tribunal against the acceptance of Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination paper and on a divided decision of the Tribunal members, Chief Election Commissioner had allowed Shahbaz Sharif to contest the election, but thereafter, LHC on a petition against the Tribunal decision declared him disqualified for contesting elections in a default case.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif getting elected from the Bhakkar provincial assembly seat had become Punjab chief minister. Thereon, the federation and Sharif brothers’ proposers had filed petitions in the SC against the decision of the LHC. Following Sharif brothers’ refusal to appear before the PCO judges and SC three-member bench, during hearing of the petitions for nearly eight months, summoned Sharif brothers in the court for four-times, but they didn’t comply. Finally, the court on February 25 acting unilaterally upheld the LHC verdict of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif’s disqualification.

Following the court decision, Shabaz Sharif stepped down from the post of Punjab chief minister and Governor rule was imposed in the province. Later on March 16-restoration of the deposed judges, Sharif brothers filed review petitions in the Supreme Court. The court in its initial hearing on March 31 issuing stay order against the earlier SC three-member bench decision, directed Shahbaz Sharif to continue working as Punjab chief minister.