Pakistani apex court suspends 28 lawmakers, two ministers

Oregon Telegraph (IANS) Monday 6th February, 2012

Citing poll fraud, the Pakistani Supreme Court Monday suspended 28 MPs and legislators, including two ministers, one of whom is currently with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on an official visit to Qatar. Their memberships, however, have not been declared null and void.

Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain, who is accompanying Gilani, and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh are among the 28 members of parliament and the provincial assemblies whose election had been challenged on grounds of poll fraud, Xinhua reported.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imrran Khan filed the plea, saying the current electoral rolls have over 30 million bogus voters.

All those who have been suspended were elected in by-polls in the last three years. Imran Khan also urged that no fresh by-elections be held till the Election Commission of Pakistan corrected the electoral rolls.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, who headed a four-member apex court bench, said in his order that despite giving the Election Commission time to rectify the rolls, the court had not received any clear indication of this.

Noting that the MPs and legislators had only been suspended and their memberships had not been declared null and void, Chaudhary said they will not get any privileges unless they are restored.