ISLAMABAD: Despite Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) announcement that it would approach the Supreme Court to reconsider the disqualification of its former secretary general Jahangir Khan Tareen, he himself seems to be having second thoughts about filing a review petition.

The SC judgement that disqualified Mr Tareen from being a member of parliament came as a shock to the erstwhile lawmaker from Lodhran, and senior party leaders close to him told Dawn that he was not interested in pursuing the matter any further.

Soon after the pronouncement of the verdict, PTI chief Imran Khan told media that the party would institute a review petition against the apex court’s decision to disqualify Mr Tareen under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.

But so disappointed was Mr Tareen with his disqualification after being rendered not sadiq and ameen (honest and truthful), that he has flown to the UK with his family, sources said, adding that he is not expected to return until next year as he plans to visit other countries as well.

PTI leader wary due to Sharif’s experience with his plea in Panama Papers case; PML-N likely to challenge ruling

On Dec 15, a three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, had disqualified Mr Tareen from being the MNA from NA-154 (Lodhran-I) for his failure to declare the 12-acre Hyde House property located just outside London in his nomination papers, and making an untrue statement before the court that he had no beneficial interest in that property.

The same bench, while hearing a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, however, absolved PTI chief Imran Khan of all corruption allegations.

Immediately after the announcement of the decision, the party sources said, some leaders suggested that Mr Tareen adopt an aggressive posture by targeting the judiciary, just as former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had done when he was disqualified by a five-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, in the Panama Papers case.

But Mr Tareen is said to have dismissed the idea point blank, and decided to go into ‘hibernation’ for some time. This is ostensibly why he offered his resignation to Imran Khan.

However, Mr Khan communicated to him that he would continue to serve as the secretary general until the apex court gave a verdict on the review petition.

The PML-N’s experience in moving a review petition against the July 28 judgement was also one of the factors that compelled Mr Tareen to weigh his legal options carefully.

On Nov 7, the same Supreme Court larger bench that heard the Panama Papers case threw out Nawaz Sharif’s review petition with an even harsher verdict than had been handed down in the case.

PML-N may seek review

In a related development, the PML-N is considering filing a review petition in the Supreme Court against its decision.

“We may file a review petition in the apex court after going through a detailed verdict in this case,” said PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi who was the petitioner in the case seeking disqualification of the PTI chairman under Article 62. “If Imran Khan meets the requirements of Article 62 and 63 then everyone in the country does,” Mr Abbasi told a press conference here on Monday.

Zulqernain Tahir in Lahore also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2017