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[image: SC rejects petition seeking Sheikh Rasheed’s disqualification]
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday dismissed the petition seekingdisqualification of Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rasheed.
Sheikh Rasheed can contest in general elections 2018, ruled the top court.
Sheikh Rashid’s qualification as a member of the National Assembly waschallenged by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shakil Awan.
Awan claimed in his plea that NA-55 lawmaker mis-declared his assets in hisnomination papers and owned the error as well.
Awan’s counsel argued before the three-member bench that according to theRepresentation of People’s Act, it is necessary to accurately declare allof one’s assets before contesting elections.
Sheikh Rasheed’s lawyer, however, admitted that his client erroneouslymis-declared the assets in question.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a member of the bench, observed that it has beensettled in the landmark verdict in a case famously called Panamagate thatan advertent or inadvertent mistake could lead to disqualification.
He said the Panamagate case actually involved the issue of ownership of theSharif family’s London flats, but former premier Nawaz Sharif wasdisqualified over Iqama (UAE work permit).