The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday heard a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in which party office given to Maryam Nawaz by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was challenged.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan heard the petition challenging Maryam Nawaz’s appointment as vice president of the PML-N.
The PTI counsel informed the bench that Maryam Nawaz was appointed as the party’s vice president on May 3, 2019. He said Maryam has been convicted by an accountability court and declared disqualified for holding any political or public office, adding that her appointment as PML-N vice president is in conflict with the law and the constitution. The petitioner said the high court had suspended Maryam Nawaz’s sentence on September 19. According to a Supreme Court decision, a convicted person cannot hold a public office, the counsel said, and argued that Maryam is ineligible under the law to hold office of the PML-N. The CEC asked whether it is an appointment or election on the party office. “No intra-party elections were held for this PML-N office,” the counsel responded.
The ECP fixed the petition for hearing on June 17 and issued notice to Maryam Nawaz. The petition was submitted by MNAs Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Ali Bokhari, Kanwal Shauzab and Javeria Zafar. PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif had announced the central office bearers of the party, including Maryam Nawaz Sharif as its vice president, earlier this month.
