PTI seeks early hearing of Omar, Shibli’s disqualification case

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has sought early hearing of its senior leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz’s disqualification case by the Supreme Court, as elections on the seats vacated by them are scheduled soon.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Friday said they had lodged a second application seeking hearing of petitions, filed on behalf of Omar and Shibli, on Monday or any other day the next week. “It is most urgent to hear otherwise the petitions would become infructuous which is not warranted in the law,” he wrote on his social media account.

Omar and Shibli, along with other parliamentarians belonging to the PTI, were disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on August 5 on the basis of his conviction by an anti-terrorism court, Faisalabad, in the 9th May incidents. Omar earlier assailed the ECP order of their disqualification before the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which, through an order dated August 6, restrained the ECP from taking any adverse action against the petitioner.

Even though the petition was pending before the PHC, the speaker National Assembly, without hearing the petitioner, had de-notified him as leader of the opposition and member of the National Assembly on August 7. Omar also assailed the NA Speaker’s order before the PHC, which on August 8 restrained the respondents from undertaking any further process pursuant to that notification.

PTI leader Omar on October 4, through Barrister Gohar, filed a civil petition before the Supreme Court under Article 185(3) of the Constitution against the order of the PHC’s Division Bench.

Omar contended that the impugned order is not sustainable in law as it has denied remedy to him against the violation of his fundamental rights.

In his application, Gohar has said the applicant Omar has not only been deseated as MNA and as leader of the opposition but has also been disqualified for five years without hearing him and without any reference from the speaker.

Since, the schedule for holding of election for the posts of leader of opposition in NA and leader of opposition in Senate has been announced, this petition should be heard early otherwise it would become infructous which is not warranted in the law, he said. Nominations for the seat vacated by Omar are to be filed from October 15 to 17 and election would be held on November 23, he said. Whereas, nominations for the seat vacated by Shibli were invited on October 8 and 9 and election on this seat would be held on October 30, read the application. Staff Report