In a noteworthy legal development reported by Dunya News, a larger bench of the Lahore High Court is set to deliberate on the petition challenging the disqualification of the former prime minister and PTI founder in the Toshkhana case.
Justice Shujaat Ali, presiding over the Lahore High Court (LHC), conducted the preliminary hearing of the petition on Friday and subsequently referred the case to a larger bench, indicating the significance and complexity of the matter. Barrister Ali Zafar, representing the former prime minister, appeared before the court during the initial proceedings.
The petitioner argued that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had imposed a five-year disqualification on August 8, 2023, deeming it an illegal measure aimed at preventing his participation in future elections. Barrister Ali Zafar vehemently contested the allegations, asserting their baselessness. In a plea to the court, he requested the declaration of the disqualification as null and void, urging the suspension of the notification until a final decision is reached on the petition.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Barrister Ali Zafar pointed out that the date for general elections had already been announced following the Supreme Court’s directives. Emphasizing his client’s eagerness to participate in the electoral process, the legal representative sought the court’s intervention in ensuring a fair and timely resolution. The larger bench is now tasked with reviewing and deciding the fate of the disqualification petition, with potential ramifications for the upcoming elections.
