ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday suspended former finance minister Ishaq Dar as member of the Senate over his failure to turn up before it despite repeated summons.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who was heading a bench of the apex court, adjourned the case until after Eidul Fitr.
At the outset, he asked the PML-N leader’s lawyer to explain as to when his client will feel well enough to show up in the court.
To which, the counsel said the doctors treating Dar can only inform about when he will recuperate from illness.
The bench issued an interim order, suspending his membership of the Senate, and directed him to appear before the court after his recovery from ailment.
Justice Nisar said the case would be taken up after Eidul Fitr.
The lawyer earlier informed the judges that his client is unwell and thus, he couldn’t appear in court.
At the previous hearing, the apex court directed Ishaq Dar, who is said to be undergoing treatment in London, to appear before it on May 8.
The CJP had warned that if he doesn’t appear, then the court will hand down a decision it would deem fit.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by Nawazish Pirzada, a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate, who challenged the verdict of a Lahore High Court’s appellate election tribunal, which allowed Ishaq Dar to contest Senate election on March 03.
He said the senator-elect has been declared a proclaimed offender by the accountability court hearing the assets case on December 11, 2017. He argued a fugitive from law couldn’t take part in election.
The petitioner pleaded with the court to direct the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) not to issue notification of Ishaq Dar’s win on a Senate seat from Punjab till the disposal of the case.
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