Pakistan's ruling PML-N today suffered another blow as the country's Election Commission rejected the new tickets issued to party's candidates for the upcoming Senate polls, a day after the apex court declared all decisions taken under ousted premier Nawaz Sharif's leadership as "null and void".
The tickets were given by party chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, who along with other party leaders visited the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and submitted papers of party candidates for the March 3 election of the Senate, the upper house of parliament.
The decision of ECP means that technically PML-N is out of race of Senate elections as time for fresh nominations has already expired, a statement said.
Yesterday, Sharif, 68, was disqualified by the Supreme Court from leading his party.
The apex court not only barred Sharif from leading PML-N but also declared all his decision as party chief as "null and void" since his disqualification on July 28 as prime minister for alleged corruption in the Panama Papers scandal.
Among other decisions, Sharif had allotted tickets to party candidates. The ECP announced that nominees issued tickets by Sharif would be treated as "independent candidates" since he was not authorised to issue the tickets, the statement said.
Practically, the candidates need support of the PML-N for victory as they are elected by the provincial assemblies and after winning the election they will join the party.
But it would have long-term impact on the PML-N as anyone of these members would be allowed to vote against party policy without facing the threat of being disqualified.
Party members are bound under the law to follow party policy in the house but those joining parties after winning the elections as independent are not bound by this law.
The consequences of the court verdict could be worse for PML-N as ECP considered several options including one to bar the candidates named by Sharif or postpone the elections, according to the ECP statement.
But it settled for holding polls on time and let the Sharifs nominees contest as independent candidates.
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