PTI's Dr Yasmeen Rashid files petition in ECP against Nawaz's political activities
Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) candidate for the NA-120 seat that was left vacant after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court, on Wednesday filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the political activities of the former PM.
The petition was filed in the morning by Advocate Babar Awan, a few hours before Nawaz is expected to lead a rally to his hometown of Lahore from Islamabad via the historic Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
The petition has been filed under Section 5 of the Political Parties Order 2002 and requests that Nawaz be disqualified from holding any post in any political party.
The opposition has decried Nawaz's continued role in the PML-N after his disqualification under Article 62 of the Constitution in the Panamagate case.
The petition further states that the party carrying Nawaz's name should be banned, asking that nominations made by Nawaz for the post of the prime minister and for the cabinet should be declared illegal.
"Any person using the name of 'Muslim League Nawaz' should be declared to be in conflict with the Constitution and the law," it adds.
The petition was drawn up by Awan on the advice of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
A day earlier on Tuesday, the ECP had issued a notice to the PML-N for the appointment of a new party leader, saying that under the Political Parties Order 2002, a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in a political party.
PML-N has yet to announce its candidate in the NA-120 elections to contest against Rashid; former first lady Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and her daughter Maryam Nawaz are being considered for the ticket, according to party officials.