Islamabad: Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday accepted petitions against the Election Act 2017 which allowed disqualified Nawaz Sharif to remain president of his party — the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) - for proper hearing from January 23.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar headed the three-member bench including Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Faisal Arab, and heard the objections raised against the Election Act 2017 by 13 petitioners.

The apex court issued notices to ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the law ministry. The attorney general of Pakistan has also been summoned on January 23 to assist the court.

Justice Nisar remarked that the SC “holds authority of judicial review, but the parliament is the supreme body for legislation and the court cannot exceed its limits.”

He said the bill was passed in the National Assembly by the vote of all parties and can only be annulled if is contradictory to basic rights.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan said the role of party leader was very important in parliamentary system, and inquired about the details of Section 203 of the election act that can lead the bill to abolishment.

Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rashid Ahmad’s counsel argued that honest leadership is a basic right of every citizen, and a disqualified person is violating that by controlling the party matters.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked that was the bill passed in senate by majority of just one vote, upon which the lawyer answered in affirmation.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawyer Latif Khosa said chairperson regulates all decisions of the party according to the law. He told the court on Justice Ijazul Ahsan’s inquiry that party’s parliamentary committee is also not free to take decisions.