ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Friday disqualified MPA-elect of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) from PB-29, Abdul Ghafoor Lehri.
The apex court on May 7 had given conditional permission to PML-N candidate Abdul Ghafoor Lehri to contest general elections. Lehri contested the May 11, 2013 elections and won.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprised Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Gulzar Ahmed was hearing the appeal of PML-N MPA against the Balochistan High Court verdict.
Kamran Murtaza, representing Lehri, said that his client did matriculation in 1983 and BA in 1985.
Justice Ijaz asked him how his client did four years course from the Wafaqul Madris, adding how he completed four years course in two years.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday granting stay against the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) order regarding counting rejected votes in NA-266 Nasirabad cum Jafferabad and asked Zafarullah Khan Jamali to approach the Balochistan High Court (BHC) for relief.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and comprising Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed heard the constitutional petition of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, under Article 184 of Constitution, against the ECP order dated 22nd May.
The petitioner Zafarullah Jamali, appearing in person, informed the court that he won the elections from NA-266 Nasirabad cum Jafferabad, Balochistan; and the ECP vide the notification on 22nd May has already notified him as a member of the National Assembly. He further told that on the application of one of the defeated candidates, the ECP vide the order dated May 22, 2013 directed that recounting of rejected votes be carried out and report be submitted to the Commission by May 25, 2013, but so far the returning officer has not carried out recounting.
He contended that the ex-parte order is unjust, arbitrary and against the law declared by Supreme Court and High Court. He said on the direction of the caretaker government a few days prior to the polling day the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner,
Naseerabad were transferred.
On court's query as to why he filed the petition directly before this Court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution when he has a remedy of moving the High Court. Jamali replied that he came to know about ECP order in Islamabad and there was not sufficient time to move the BHC. The former PM said he was prepared to withdraw this petition and will move the learned High Court but till then the order of the ECP be suspended.
Justice Jillani permitting Mir Jamali to move the BHC against ECP order within 5 days from today (24th May) till 29.5.2013 directed 'the order of the ECP dated 22.5.2013 impugned herein shall not be given effect to', and disposed of the petition.