Another setback for Nawaz Sharif; Disqualified can't be party head: SC rules

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif ineligible to head his own party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The supreme court ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to remove Nawaz Sharif as head of the PML-N and ordered that "all steps taken, orders passed, directions given and documents issued" by him since his disqualification last year be nullified.

Sharif was disqualified by the apex court in the Panama Papers case last year under Article 62 of the Constitution for failing to declare a receivable salary as an asset.
The verdict said that anyone who is unable to fulfill the requirements of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution cannot hold any public office including the post of a party head.

The CJP Justice Saquib Nisar, while reading out the verdict in Courtroom 1, said that a person who is disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution is not eligible to sign on any document needed to nominate someone to the National Assembly or Senate.

The short order is consisted of nine paragraphs and its reasons will be issued later. It has also put the Senate election, scheduled for March 3, in jeopardy.


Law experts are of the opinion that in view of today’s judgment, Senate candidates can contest election independently as party electoral symbols cannot be allotted to them.

Earlier today, the apex court had reserved its judgement on the Election Act 2017, which paved the way for deposed PM Nawaz Sharif to become party head of the PML-N prior to his disqualification.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Awami Muslim League, PPP and others had filed petitions with the apex court against the Elections Act 2017, and the court began hearing the case in Jan 2018.