ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that a disqualified person cannot head any political party.
Announcing its decision in a case regarding the Election Act 2017, The SC elaborated that a person disqualified under Article 62, 63 of the Constitution cannot hold party office.
As a result of the verdict, all the decision made by Nawaz as party president including the nomination of candidates for the Senate elections have been invalidated.
PML-N will now have to re-announce its candidates for the Senate polls scheduled to be held on March 3.
A three-member bench, headed by Cheif Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, had been hearing several petitions challenging specific clauses of the act that led to Sharif’s appointment as party president following his disqualification as prime minister in the Panam Papers case.
The verdict also read that party presidency was directly related to the parliament.
The bench also directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to remove Nawaz’s name from the column of party presidents.
PML-N leaders’ reaction
PML-N leaders reacted to the verdict saying it would strengthen the narrative of Nawaz that he was being victimised.
Maryam Nawaz termed the verdict as her father’s “victory” saying: “Nawaz Sharif, you have won!”
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the party was expecting the similar verdict from the Supreme Court.
Talal Chaudhry said the decision didn’t mean a minus-Nawaz proposition.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that PML-N would continue to follow the line determined by Nawaz Sharif.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said disqualification can’t change the course of politics.