Pak SC declares Sharif brothers eligible to contest elections

Islamabad, May 26 (ANI): Revoking the Lahore High Court's verdict to disqualify former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif from contesting elections, the Pakistan Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday declared the Sharif brothers eligible for fighting elections.

The five-member SC bench headed by Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jilani, while hearing the review petitions filed by the Sharifs' against their disqualification on the conviction in plane hijacking case and default case respectively ordered to lift the ban from them.

Earlier, the apex court had upheld the Lahore High Court's (LHC) verdict in February after the two consistently refused to appear before the before the PCO judges and SC three-member bench, during hearing of the petitions.

Later, Shahbaz Sharif was removed from the post of Punjab chief minister and governors' rule was imposed in the province.

Nawaz Sharif, had then called on a nation wide protest march against the verdict and to restore the judiciary including reinstating the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

On March 16, following the restoration of the deposed judges, Sharif brothers had filed review petitions in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leaders have hailed the Supreme Court's verdict.

The PML-N Secretary Information, Ahsan Iqbal said the Supreme Court's verdict would lead to strengthening the democracy.

Iqbal blamed former President Pervez Musharraf for hatching a conspiracy against the Sharif brothers.

Another PML-N leader, Javed Hashmi termed the SC's verdict as a victory of justice and truth.

"It is a day of jubilation for the entire nation, and the decision will put the country on the path of progress and prosperity.The judiciary has foiled the conspiracies hatched against the people," The News quoted Hashmi, as saying. (ANI)