The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Friday suspended a notification of former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's election as a returned candidate from the Senate. "The ECP has been pleased to suspend the notification of even number dated March 09, 2018, to the extent of Ishaq Dar, whereby he was declared as a returned candidate from the Senate of Pakistan against a seat reserved for technocrats including Ulema from Punjab province," the notification issued by the ECP said.
According to the ECP, the Commission has issued the notification pursuant to order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in civil appeal No 352 of 2018 "Muhammad Nawazish Ali Pirzada Vs Election Commission of Pakistan through Provincial Election Commissioner, Lahore." A petition, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party's Nawazish Pirzada, had requested the apex court to suspend the Lahore High Court's judgment allowing Dar to contest the March 3 Senate election.
An appellate election tribunal of the LHC on February 17 granted Dar permission to contest Senate election, setting aside an order of the returning officer who had rejected his nomination papers. Dar was successfully elected to the Senate from Punjab but has yet to be administered oath. The notification of Dar as a returned candidate from the Senate has been suspended in the light of Supreme Court's orders. In May 2018, the apex court had suspended Dar's membership of the Senate on a temporary basis.
The former finance minister has been out of the country since October 2017 on account of his medical treatment. An accountability court hearing corruption case against Dar has also declared him a proclaimed offender for not showing up in the court. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a graft case against the former finance minister on the directives of the Supreme Court.
Earlier this week, Dar was seen avoiding a barrage of questions aimed at him by journalists in London. Journalists surrounded the former finance minister as he left the Harley Street Clinic in London, after having visited Kulsoom Nawaz who has been under cancer treatment since August last year.
One of the journalists asked Dar that he was ill and yet roaming around in London's streets. Angered by questions of the journalist, the ex-finance minister said: "I'll return (to Pakistan) whenever my health improves."
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