Lahore:
Lahore High Court (LHC) convened the Election Commission in Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday on petitions that challenged the issuance of disability messages in conviction.
According to Express News, justice Khalid Ishaq heard the petitions filed by Muhammad Ahmad Chattha and Muhammad Ahmad Khan Bachhar, represented by lawyer Shehzad Shaukat.
Last month, both Chattha and Bachhar were sentenced in a case related to the riots on May 9, and subsequently disqualified by the election supervisor.
During the procedure on Wednesday, lawyer Arshad Nazir Mirza performed on behalf of provincial assembly member Afzal Sahi.
Attorney Shaukat claimed that the ECP issued the disqualification message without hearing the respondents, while under Article 63-A, a decision on disqualification can only be made after hearing the candidate.
He maintained that the court had sentenced them, but the Assembly’s speeches received neither a reference nor forwarded one to ECP.
He pointed out that the court’s decision was announced on July 31, yet the disqualification was informed on August 5. “Will an anti-terrorism court now be treated as a Supreme Court’s judgment?” He asked.
The court asked if the petries would remain provincial assembly members if their judgments were suspended as the lawyer answered in the affirmative.
