Order on plea against disqualification of MPA reserved.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved order on a petition filed against the disqualification of a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly for being on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The fourth schedule is a list of proscribed people which is managed by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) after collecting data from provinces and federal areas, including Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The MPA from PK-89 Bannu, Shah Mohammad, filed the petition in IHC against the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan which annulled his membership for being listed on the fourth schedule.

His counsel Dr Babar Awan adopted before the court that the district police officer had issued a clearance certification to the petitioner at the time of filing of nomination papers.

The counsel said disqualification of a lawmaker for being in the fourth schedule was against fundamental rights.

He said a...