ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking disqualification of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar from Senate for not taking oath due to his stay in London.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed conducted hearing of a petition filed by Nawazish Peerzada. Ishaq Dar was elected as a senator on a technocrat seat from Punjab in 2018, but he did not take oath owing to his stay in London on health grounds.
The court dismissed the petition as the complainant Nawazish Peerzada failed to appear before the court, whereas Dar has also been a no-show since the start of the proceedings.
The PML-N leader, who is in self-exile since 2017, was elected in absentia as a senator from Punjab in March 2018 but did not take oath due to his stay in London.
On the petition, the Supreme Court issued notices to Ishaq Dar on 12-03-2018 to appear in person. The apex court was informed on 08-05-2018 that Ishaq Dar cannot come to Pakistan on account of ailment. In view of that a three-judge bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, suspended his membership over his failure to appear before the court despite repeated summons.
He, however, later informed the ECP that he was ready to take oath but the only hurdle in doing so was the apex court’s suspension of his election. After today’s ruling, the notification for Dar’s victory will be issued and he will be bound to take oath within 60 days as per the new ordinance issued by the government earlier this year.
