Sharif disqualified as PML-N chief

Islamabad, February 21 

Pakistan’s Supreme Court today ruled that a person disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution cannot serve as the head of a political party, in a blow to Nawaz Sharif who will no longer remain the chief of the ruling PML-N.

Sharif, 68, was disqualified by the apex court in the Panama Papers case in July last year under Article 62 for failing to declare a receivable salary as an asset.

A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar today said that it is mandatory for a party chief to fulfil the requirements of Articles 62 and 63 as a party head is powerful and political parties control the government.

“It is crucial for parliamentarians to be of good conduct to run the affairs of the Parliament,” he said.

After Sharif’s disqualification as PM, the ruling PML-N amended the Constitution to allow him to retain his chairmanship of the party.

As a result, the Elections Act 2017 was passed by Parliament. The act paved the way for Sharif to become the PML-N chief after he stepped down as party president following his disqualification by the apex court in July last year. Under the old law, a person disqualified from holding a public office was also barred from leading a political party but the bar was removed by the parliament when it passed Elections Act 2017. — PTI