Full Bench summons Sharifs on 18th

LAHORE - A Full Bench of LHC on Thursday summoned PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and party President Mian Shahbaz Sharif for June 18 on two separate Constitutional petitions challenging eligibility of Nawaz to contest elections and victory of Shahbaz from a Provincial Assembly seat as unopposed.

The bench comprising Mr Justice Fazal-i-Miran Chauhan, Mr Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan and Mr Justice Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, however, declined to grant stay order against Shahbaz Sharif to stop him from taking oath as member of Punjab Assembly and to restrain Nawaz Sharif from contesting by-elections from NA-123, Lahore.

The petitioners have assailed Elections Commission of Pakistan's decision to allow Sharifs to contest elections, the split-decisions of two Election Tribunals of the Lahore High Court on their eligibility and the decisions of Returning Officers who accepted their nomination papers.

The bench also directed the petitioner's counsel to come up with his arguments on the point that whether a voter of a constituency can challenge the candidature of a candidate or not.

Noor Elahi has challenged the by-election of  Nawaz Sharif from NA-123, Lahore while Khurram Shah sought disqualification of Shahbaz Sharif from PP-48, Bhakkar.

The Counsel for the petitioners Dr. Qazi Mohiuddin argued that all these three verdicts were contrary to the Constitutional provision as ECP was not authorised to allow Sharifs to participate in the elections.