Lahore - The Lahore High Court full bench on Monday deferred the hearing of a petition moved by former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, challenging his disqualification, for indefinite time. The bench passed the orders when it came to know that the All Pakistan Muslim League -- headed by Musharraf -- had boycotted the May 11 elections.
“The court will first hear the cases of those candidates who are participating in elections,” the bench observed.
Earlier, Salaman Safdar, counsel for the APML chief, told the court that the election tribunal had exceeded its powers by disqualifying the ex-president to contest elections from NA-139 Kasur.
The tribunal was not authorised to disqualify a candidate under the allegations of subverting the Constitution, the counsel contended.
The bench questioned why he filed the petition against the disqualification when his party had boycotted the elections.
The counsel replied he wanted to clear the allegations leveled on his client.
The bench observed the cases of contesting candidates would be decided first and adjourned the hearing for indefinite time.
Pervez Musharraf had submitted in his petition that the tribunal had disqualified him, stating that he didn’t meet the criteria defined in Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
Separately, a petition was filed in the LHC, seeking the cancellation of APML’s registration.
Afaq Ahmad advocate stated in his petition that Pervez Musharraf had been disqualified to contest elections by the election tribunal because he did not meet the criteria of Article 62 and 63.
It was necessary for a person to qualify for the criteria before forming any political party, the lawyer said.
He requested the court to issue directions to the ECP to cancel the registration of the APML.