Pakistan's Supreme Court bars ousted PM Nawaz Sharif from leading PML-N

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that the ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif be removed as head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — political party he founded.

“The Election Commission is directed to remove Nawaz Sharif’s name as president of PML-N from all official records,” Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said.

The direction was given by the three-judge bench of Supreme Court while hearing a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Awami Muslim League, PPP and others against the Elections Act 2017.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar said, “An individual disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 cannot serve as head of a political party,”

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The Pakistani Supreme Court also said that a person who is disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution is not eligible to sign on any document needed to nominate someone to the National Assembly or Senate.

As a consequence of the direction, Senate tickets issued by Nawaz are also declared void.

Elections Act 2017 was pushed through the Upper and Lower houses of the Pakistan’s parliament.