ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) today (Wednesday) rejected former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s petition challenging the result of the Senate chairman election, ruling that it is inadmissible for hearing.
A 13-page verdict on Gilani’s petition was issued by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah. According to the judgment, the bench clarified that the court does not interfere in the workings of the Parliament.
The judgement stated that the “language used by the framers of the Constitution is unambiguous and effective in order to prevent a court from encroaching upon the independence of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)”.
Justice Minallah observed that the Constitution “clearly prevents” the courts from inquiring into the validity of proceedings of the parliament. “Any attempt to interfere in parliamentary proceedings would undermine the dignity, prestige and independence of the parliament and expose the apex constitutional legislative forum to undesirable and unwarranted criticism”, the IHC chief justice added.
Justice Minallah observed that the entire process of the Senate chairman election was “wholly outside” the high court’s jurisdiction and declared Gilani’s petition as “not maintainable”. He also observed that Gilani had the option of removing Sanjrani from the office of Senate chairman through a majority resolution in the upper house of parliament.
The former prime minister — who was the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) joint candidate challenging the government candidate Sadiq Sanjrani — had lost the Senate chairman election by obtaining 42 votes compared to Sanjrani’s 48.
During the Senate election, PDM’s Gilani had emerged as the victor from his Islamabad seat, beating Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh — associated with the ruling PTI — in what was arguably the most-watched contest.
