Gilani files appeal in IHC against Senate chairman election

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Opposition Leader in Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani filed an intra-court appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday against the Senate chairman election, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Earlier, IHC’s single bench had rejected Gilani’s petition. 

The PPP leader, in his petition, has prayed to the court to declare a single bench’s order null and void and also overturn the presiding officer’s decision to reject the seven votes cast in the election for the seat of Senate chairman.  

Javed Iqbal Vains filed an appeal in the court on behalf of Yousaf Raza Gilani. 

The Islamabad High Court, on March 24, had dismissed a petition filed by PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gilani against the election of Sadiq Sanjrani as the Senate chairman.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah declared that Sadiq Sanjrani will remain the Senate chairman as the petition is not maintainable.

 In its 13-page written verdict, the IHC Chief Justice dismissed Gilani's petition as not maintainable.

The former prime minister’s lawyer Farooq H Naek, in his arguments, told the court that his client received 49 votes but seven votes were rejected.

When asked, Naek told the court that they have challenged the Senate election, not its procedure. “Parliament’s business or procedure were not part of the March 12 Senate chairman’s election,” he added.

 

Reporter Ihtesham Kiani