Peshawar High Court Rejects Zartaj Gul’s Petition Against Disqualification

Peshawar: The Peshawar High Court has announced its reserved verdict on the petition filed by former MNA Zartaj Gul challenging her disqualification. The court rejected the petition, declaring it inadmissible and advised the petitioner to approach the relevant court.

The decision was delivered by a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Muhammad Faheem Wali.

During the hearing, Zartaj Gul’s counsel argued that she belongs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has all relevant documents. He stated that after the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) awarded her a sentence, the Election Commission disqualified her through a notification issued on August 5. He claimed the same notification led to the disqualification of multiple members and that similar petitions by Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz were already pending in the Peshawar High Court, which is why this case was filed there.

The counsel further contended that Zartaj Gul was born and currently resides in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was convicted in absentia. An appeal against the ATC decision has been filed, although not yet scheduled for hearing.

However, the Deputy Director Law of the Election Commission maintained that the case falls outside the jurisdiction of the Peshawar High Court and should be filed in the Lahore or Islamabad High Court. He also confirmed that the Election Commission issued a single notification due to the same case involving multiple individuals.

The Deputy Attorney General stated that the conviction was delivered by the ATC Faisalabad, and Zartaj Gul is still an absconder. The court questioned the lack of arrest efforts despite the legal proceedings.

After hearing arguments from all parties, the court declared the petition non-maintainable and returned it, advising Zartaj Gul to approach the appropriate forum for relief.