ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) Chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri seeking reconstruction of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported.
The court remarked that the petitioner could not convince the bench over his petition and the intentions behind filing it.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed the hearing of the petition, filed by Qadri regarding the reconstitution of ECP.
During today’s proceedings, the Chief Justice remarked that there are over 100 registered political parties, 342 elected members of the National Assembly and many political parties that are not part of the current parliament, but yet no one has expressed any reservation, except Tahirul Qadri, over the commission.
The court questioned the TMQ chief as to how his fundamental rights had been infringed upon with the current makeup of the commission.
The chief justice also asked as to how the TMQ chief had suddenly returned from Canada to question the commission’s organisation, adding that Qadri would have to convince the bench over his sincerity in the matter.
The bench also inquired the TMQ chief as to when he acquired Canadian citizenship and the chief justice later remarked that Qadri did not identify himself as a Pakistani when abroad.
In response, Qadri said he believed that he was being tried for being a dual national and that his loyalty to Pakistan was being questioned.
The Chief Justice maintained that the petition has been submitted in a personal capacity, and the petitioner is not eligible to contest elections, therefore he must prove his right to petition.
Qadri replied to the bench, that for three days he is being put on trial, by asking such questions that the constitution does not even allow to be asked – to which the Chief Justice remarked, that everyone who appears before the court is liable to be questioned.
DND
