PHC suspends denotification of Opposition leaders in NA, Senate

Peshawar High Court (PHC) has barred the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate from appointing new opposition leaders, following the disqualification of Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, reported 24NewsHDTV Channel. 

The hearing of the case was conducted by PHC Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr. Khurshid Iqbal. The court stayed the appointment of a new opposition leader in the National Assembly as well as the appointment of a new opposition leader in the Senate. 

Peshawar High Court issued notice to Election Commission of Pakistan and other parties and directed them to submit reply by August 15. 

During the hearing, PTI counsel Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told the court that ECP had illegally denotified Omar Ayub as Opposition leader in National Assembly and Shibli Faraz as Opposition leader in Senate. He claimed that Election Commission can not act as Opposition leader is a legal post under Assembly rule 39. 

PTI counsel was of the view that Supreme Court ruling said ECP cannot disqualify a lawmaker. He claimed PTI opposition leaders were disqualified by giving false reference to Azhar Siddique case. 

He said Speaker had not sent any reference to ECP against the opposition leaders and ECP acted in it its own capacity which is illegal and should be declared null and void. PTI lawyer requested the court that NA Speaker and Senate chairman should be hold back from new appointments. 

After hearing the arguments of PTI counsel, Peshawar High Court issued notices to ECP and other concerned parties for August 15.