fakhruddin-g-cec-inp-670
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim presiding over a meeting of the election commission. — INP/File Photo

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared on Monday that holders of dual nationality could not hold any office in a political party.

The commission was hearing a petition challenging the qualification of Dr Tahirul Qadri to head his party, Pakistan Awami Tehrik, because of his Canadian nationality. Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Sindh ECP Member Justice (retd) Roshan Essani did not attend the hearing.

The petition was filed by Communist Party’s Chairman Javed Malik who argued that Dr Qadri was heading a political party enlisted with the commission in violation of the law which required office-bearers of parties to be qualified to be elected as members of parliament.

He said Dr Qadri had recently entered into an agreement with the government as chairman of the PAT. A copy of the agreement was submitted as evidence.

Under Section 5(1) of the Political Parties Order of 2002: “Every citizen, not being in the service of Pakistan, shall have the right to form or be a member of a political party or be otherwise associated with a political party or take part in political activities or be elected as an office-bearer of a political party, provided that a person shall not be appointed or serve as an office-bearer of a political party if he is not qualified to be, or is disqualified from being elected or chosen as a member of the majlis-i-shoora (parliament) under Article 63 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or under any other law for the time being in force.”

The commission endorsed the legal position but said that according to its information Dr Qadri was only a member of the party, following which the application was withdrawn.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...