ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, allowing Maryam Nawaz to hold the position of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Mohammad Raza headed three-member bench announced its verdict.
The ECP said that Maryam Nawaz will remain as the PML-N Vice President. It said that apparently the post of PML-N Vice President is un-functional.
مریم نواز شریف مسلم لیگ ن کی نائب صدر رہیں گی
الیکشن کمیشن pic.twitter.com/7a96KHhjut— PML(N) Media (@PmlnMedia) September 17, 2019
The PTI leaders including Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bukhari, Kanwal Shauzab and Javera Zafar had submitted an application to the ECP, arguing that the appointment of Maryam Nawaz as the Vice President of PML-N was contrary to the Constitution.
They argued that that Maryam Nawaz had been declared disqualified for any political or public office.
After hearing the arguments of the PTI’s Counsel Advocate Hassan Maan, the ECP had reserved the verdict on Monday (yesterday).
We are of the view that today’s decision of the ECP with regard to disqualification of Ms. Maryam Nawaz to hold the office of Vice President of PML-N is contrary to the decision of the Supreme Court in the Zulfiqar Bhutta case PLD 2018 SC 370. 1/3
— Maleeka Bokhari (@MalBokhari) September 17, 2019
We are also of the view that the Zulfiqar Bhutta case is not contrary to the decision of the Larger Bench of Supreme Court in the Benazir Bhutto case PLD 1988 SC 416. Therefore, we reserve our right to challenge today’s ECP decision before the competent forum.2/3
— Maleeka Bokhari (@MalBokhari) September 17, 2019
Without prejud to the above, ECP’s today’s judgment, as reported in the media, confirms that Ms. Maryam Nawaz having been convicted, can only hold a position in her party which is non- funct. According to the ECP, the post of Vice President in PML-N is a non-functional post.3/4
— Maleeka Bokhari (@MalBokhari) September 17, 2019
This means that Maryam Nawaz as Vice President of PML-N cannot hold any Jalsa or liaise with any other political Party or enter into any “function” with regard to her party. 4/4
— Maleeka Bokhari (@MalBokhari) September 17, 2019
