ISLAMABAD – Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has refused to appear beforethe Supreme Court in the case regarding the duration of thedisqualification case.

He informed Supreme Court on Tuesday that he will not be a party to thecase regarding the duration of disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) ofthe Constitution.

Former disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif submitted his reply beforethe Supreme Court of Pakistan through the Advocate on Record Azam NazeerTarar distancing himself from the case.

On the previous hearing held on Wednesday January 31, Sharif’s counsel hadsought time to consult the party leadership. The court had granted therequest and had adjourned the hearing to recommence on Wednesday, Feb 7.

In his reply Nawaz Sharif stated: “had he been party to the originalproceedings, he would have requested Justice Azmat Saeed Shaikh and JusticeIjaz-ul-Ahsan to recuse themselves from the bench, as they have alreadyrendered a judgement regarding the issue of my qualification as a member ofParliament and have expressed their opinion about my person on a number ofoccasion, therefore it would be unfortunate if the were to again decide onthe issues keeping my person in their view.”

He further added: “a time limit could have been provided by the Parliamentbut since it has not been done so, the issue of qualification under Article62 is confined only to the election in question.”

“I being a strong proponent of democracy believe that it is the right ofpeople of Pakistan to participate in the process of election and to rejector elect candidate(s) of their choice. They enjoy an inalienable right toelect their representatives through a true democratic process and not begiven the list of selective people through the process of elimination.”

In the conclusion Nawaz Sharif maintained that in his understanding “totake part in election process is a fundamental right and therefore noperpetual disqualification can be imposed on someone by interpretingArticle 62 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”