Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on a petition challenging the council’s election procedure and nomination of Dr Asim Hussain who is also adviser to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.
The petitioner, Dr Salman Kazmi, submitted that the PMDC’s election board had amended its rules to stop certain candidates from contesting elections. He said Dr Hussain is a political figure as well as the PMDC vice-chairman and according to PMDC regulations is ineligible to hold office in the council.
Dr Hussain has now submitted his nomination for election to the council, he said.
Kazmi requested the court to direct the PMDC to explain the amended rules before holding elections as they are ambiguous and need elaboration. He also requested the court to restrain Dr Hussain from contesting the election.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2013.