The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has scheduled the hearing of the disqualification case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Sohail Sultan for July 8. A two-member bench led by Justice Hassan Aziz Rizvi will preside over the case.
Court Issues Notices to ECP and Others
The FCC has issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the attorney general, and other respondents. Sultan had challenged the speaker's reference and the ECP's jurisdiction to proceed against him over allegations that he was a government employee before contesting the general elections.
Background of the Case
The ECP had been conducting proceedings against the PTI lawmaker based on a reference alleging that he was serving as a government employee before contesting the general elections. Before entering politics, Sultan served as an assistant advocate general in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. His petition questions the legality of the proceedings initiated on that basis.
Earlier, the FCC had restrained the ECP from proceeding against Sultan pending adjudication of the matter. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) had also granted him interim relief on October 17, 2024, suspending the ECP's proceedings on the impugned reference.
Upcoming Hearing
The hearing on July 8 will address the core issues of the case, including the validity of the ECP's jurisdiction and the legality of the proceedings against Sultan. The outcome may set a precedent regarding the disqualification of lawmakers over prior government employment.
