The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has delayed its verdict on a petition challenging the appointment of Maryam Nawaz as vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for want of more information.
A three-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza, had reserved the decision on August 1 after hearing arguments for and against the appointment of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and set Aug 27 for its announcement.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the bench sought the help of lawyers from both sides on understanding the Supreme Court verdict against Nawaz as well as the workings of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. The bench announced that the verdict will now be announced on September 3.
The petition against Maryam’s assent to PML-N’s vice president position was filed in May by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, including Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bokhari, Kanwal Shauzab and Javeria Zafar. The petition contended that Maryam cannot hold any party position as she has been convicted by a court of law in a corruption case (Avenfield reference) filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The PML-N leader, on the other hand, had requested the ECP to dismiss the plea, arguing that there was no restriction in the constitution and the Election Act on a convicted person holding party’s vice presidency. The PML-N leader’s lawyer had rejected the petition as non-maintainable. Furthering his argument, he had said that the ECP is responsible for holding national elections, not party elections. “Maryam Nawaz has not been elected for the position of party vice-president. Her selection to the position does not affect the rights of any of the petitioners,” the lawyer had said while presenting his final arguments in the case.
