ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected the plea seeking removal of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Wednesday.
In a 13-page verdict released by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, the court hoped that the lawmakers will resolve their disputes at the forum of the House. "Under Article 69, the court cannot interfere in the matter. Hopefully, supremacy of the parliament will be ensured," it ruled.
Earlier, the IHC had reserved the verdict on admissibility of the plea filed by PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gillani against the victory of Sadiq Sanjrani as Chairman Senate.
During the hearing, Yousaf Raza Gillani's counsel argued that President of Pakistan had appointed GDA Senator Syed Muzaffar Shah as presiding officer who rejected seven votes of the PPP candidate for stamping on the name of the candidate. "Rules of the House do not mention how to correctly mark votes," he added.
At this, Chief Justice IHC Athar Minallah asked that was not there any official from Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) present during the process. Farooq H Naek told the court that no representative of the ECP was part of the process.
The plea, which was filed by lawyer of PPP candidate for Chairmanship of Upper House, stated that rejection of seven votes of Yousaf Raza Gillani was illegal.
The counsel requested court to nullify the rejection of votes and declare former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani as Chairman Senate.