Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday declared Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani eligible to become as acting president of Pakistan.
IHC judge Justice Aamir Farooq announced the verdict, reserved by the court on February 14.
Petitioner Afzal Shinwari had filed the plea, stating that Sanjrani cannot become acting president because he does not meet the requirements set by the Constitution. The appointment of Sanjrani as acting president would be in violation of Article 49 of the Constitution, he added.
According to Article 49 of the Constitution, the Senate chairman becomes acting president in the absence of the head of state. However, Article 41 states that the individual needs to be more than 45 years of age.
The petition pointed out that Sanjrani was 40 years old and did not meet the basic requirement to hold the office even in acting capacity.