Former finance minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar has conveyed to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani his intention to take oath as a senator, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
In a letter to the Senate chairman, a copy of which has also been provided to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Ishaq Dar, who is currently staying in London, has said that with the rejection of a civil appeal by the Supreme Court (SC) on December 21, 2021, the apex court’s own order, dated May 8, 2018, in which it had suspended his membership of the Senate had ceased to be effective.
“And it is in the light of the SC’s decision that the ECP had to later withdraw its order under which it had suspended my election to Upper House of the parliament,” the former finance minister writes, adding that now when legal obstacles had been removed, he was ready to take the oath of his office.
However, at the same time, the PML-N leader has told the Senate chairman that since he is under treatment in the UK, he could not appear in the Senate in person; therefore it is his request that arrangements are made for his oath-taking via a video link. “And even if that is not possible, then the chairman, under article- 255 of the Senate’s rules and regulations, can ask Pakistan’s high commissioner in London to administer the oath to me.”
Dar asked the Senate chairman that he be sworn in virtually/video link under Article 255-2, arguing that this method was already in use by the Supreme Court.
Dar has also attached his recent medical reports with the letter bearing the signatures of his doctor.
Earlier in October 2021, Ishaq Dar had also written a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in which he had said that taking an oath in 40 days did not apply to him.
The former finance minister had clarified in his letter that his notification was suspended by the Supreme Court on May 8, 2018.
In his letter, Ishaq Dar had also referred to the September 1 Presidential Ordinance.
Ishaq Dar had then also sent a copy of the reminder letter to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani.
Reporter Ihtesham Kiani