ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday has temporarily suspended the Senate membership of Senator and former finance minister Ishaq Dar.
The former finance minister on March 3 won a Senate seat as a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) backed independent candidate after he was allowed by an appellate election tribunal of the Lahore High Court (LHC) LHC on February 17 to contest Senate election.
The appellate election tribunal of LHC while hearing a petition of the ex-finance minister had set aside an order of the returning officer (RO) who had rejected his nomination papers.
However, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Nawazish Pirzada challenged decision of the LHC’s appellate election tribunal in the Supreme Court.
The petitioner had stated in his application that an absconder (Ishaq Dar) could not run for Senate seat and requested the court to dismiss decision of the LHC’s appellate election tribunal.
Ishaq Dar has been declared absconder by Accountability Court in a reference pertaining to assets beyond his known sources of income as the ex-finance minister is in London reportedly receiving treatment.
On the last hearing, the Supreme Court had summoned Ishaq Dar to appear in the court in person; however, the former finance minister failed to comply with orders of the top court.
During today’s hearing, the CJP asked Dar’s lawyer as to when his client would recover.
Upon this, the law informed the bench that only doctors could confirm that.
Hearing this; the bench remarked that Ishaq Dar seemed to be healthy according to news but when it came to appearance in court, his medical reports were presented.
The court then temporarily suspended Senate membership of Ishaq Dar and adjourned hearing of the case until after Eidul Fitr.
