Larger bench likely to decide Sharifs fate

ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar is likely to constitute a larger bench for the hearing of two government appeals seeking a clean chit from the apex court about the eligibility of Sharif brothers to hold a public office.

"Though both these appeals are fixed for hearing before a three-judge bench headed by Justice Musa K Leghari for coming Monday, constitution of a larger bench is on the cards to adjudicate upon this legal issue of immense constitutional and political importance", a well placed source told The Nation on Friday.

Though the present Parliament is already about to complete its fifth month, the question of eligibility of the Sharifs is dragging along in courts with no end around the corner.

In these appeals, the Federal Government is challenging separate Lahore High Court (LHC) rulings through which the eligibility of Sharif brothers to hold the public offices was dented on the basis of charges ranging from loan default to criminal convictions.

Under these rulings, LHC had disqualified Nawaz Sharif while the question of younger Sharif's eligibility, who is also President of PML-N besides being Chief Minister of Punjab, has been referred to Election Commission.

As the Sharif brothers have already announced the boycott of superior courts in view of the oath taken by superior judges under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) after events of November 3 last year, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government is fighting the legal battle of Sharifs, with whom the Gilani regime formed the ruling coalition.

Well-placed sources have also stated that the government is proposing to Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar to constitute a larger bench for hearing the appeals of government in favour of Sharif brothers.

The popularity of these two PML-N leaders is rated high among the masses in view of their bold stance against beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf and his actions including sacking of top judges in November last year.