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Court agrees to hear case seeking disqualification of Sharif brothers

LAHORE, January 30 (Internews): The Lahore High Court has admitted for

hearing a petition seeking its orders that deposed Prime Minister Nawaz

Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif be banned from contesting future elections.

The court is expected to begin regular hearing of the petition from

Monday, which seeks disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and former chief

minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, from participating in future

elections.

The petitioner, private lawyer Allah Bukhsh, contends that under Article

62 of the Constitution, persons that are corrupt, dishonest or

defaulters of banks cannot be elected to the parliament.

He also contends that Nawaz Sharif while addressing the nation confessed

that he and his family were loan defaulters and announced to surrender

his and his familyís assets to redeem the loans.

Bukhsh said Sharifís speech as prime minister was telecast live by the

electronic media and reproduced by the print media in May 1998.

He sought court orders to direct the Election Commission to immediately

disqualify both the Sharif brothers in light of the relevant rules and

ban them from contesting future elections. ---Internews