ECP has no power to de-seat a lawmaker for being on Fourth Schedule: IHC

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has no power to disqualify a lawmaker for being his name on the Fourth Schedule. Justice Aamir Farooq announced the reserved verdict on the petition of PTI MPA Shah Muhammad. Babar Awan has represented the petitioner. The ECP had disqualified Shah Muhammad, who was elected on the provincial assembly seat (PK-89) in Bannu, for being on the list compiled under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. Babar Awan contended that the district police officer concerned had given his client a clearance certificate before he submitted his nomination papers for the 2018 general elections. “Placing a name on the Fourth Schedule is a violation of basic human rights,” he argued, adding that the Election Commission could not de-seat a lawmaker for being on the Fourth Schedule.