Gilani’s plea, challenging Sadiq Sanjrani’s Victory

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday declared PPP leader Yusuf Raza Gilani’s plea; challenging Sadiq Sanjrani’s victory as chairman Senate, non-maintainable.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday remarked that parliamentary proceedings had constitutional exemptions. During the hearing, the IHC chief justice remarked that parliament was to address big issues of the country and wondered; if it was unable to solve its own matters. Should courts interfere in the parliamentary affairs, he questioned. Courts used to take care of supremacy of the parliament, he added.

Elections and Voting:

Gilani’s lawyer Farooq H Naek pleaded that the Senate chairman elections were not part of the parliamentary proceedings. The presiding officer was telling the voters to mark the stamp anywhere within the box. He said the presiding officer had rejected seven votes of Gilani on the basis of stamps inbox of the candidate’s name on the ballot papers. The chief justice asked whether Gilani had the majority in the upper house. To this, the lawyer answered in “yes”.

At this, the court said then Gilani could remove the Senate chairman with his majority and asked; whether there was an alternate forum under the law for the petitioner.