Islamabad, Jan. 25 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's eligibility to contest the presidential elections has been challenged before the Election Commission of Pakistan following the Supreme Court declaring the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as unconstitutional and illegal.
Maulvi Iqbal Haider, a lawyer from Karachi, has filed a "constitutional reference" under Articles 63(2) and 41(3) of the Constitution asking the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) "to re-scrutinise the candidates of the presidential elections" due to the fact that the NRO was "conditionally operational" at the time, The Dawn reports.
Legal experts believe that the reference filed by Haider, known for filing petitions on sensitive and controversial matters, is likely to be rejected because a disqualification reference against the president cannot be filed in any forum.
The eligibility of a candidate could only be challenged by rival candidates at the time of elections, they pointed out.
When contacted, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said: "The reference does not warrant a comment."
However, he claimed that Zardari had not been convicted by any foreign or local court in any case.
Haidar's complaint read: "If the NRO 2007 was not in the field at the time of filing nomination papers by Mr Asif Ali Zardari for contesting the presidential election 2008, then Mr Asif Ali Zardari could not be eligible/qualified to contest such presidential election, as Mr Asif Ali Zardari was the beneficiary of the NRO having been convicted by the Swiss court and subordinate courts of this country." (ANI)
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