' AJMAL MIAN, C.J.--The petitioner by this petition has prayed for the following reliefs:- "(1) Direct Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 to make declaration that Respondents Nos. 3 to 31 are operating in a manner prejudicial to Islamic ideology, sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan and take subsequent action of dissolution of these parties accordingly.
(2) To stay the Election till adjudication of this petition."
2. The petitioner who claims to be the President of the Pakistan Peoples League has arrayed in the title of the above petition, the Government of Pakistan, the Chief Election Commissioner, as respondents Nos. 1 and 2 and some of the political parties as respondents Nos. 3 to 31 which include almost all the known political parties. He has sought the above-quoted reliefs- on the ground that the respondents political parties are operating in the manner which involves infringement of Article 17 of the Constitution.
3. The petitioner in support of the above petition has submitted that since the Armed Forces have been called upon to act in aid of civil power in Sind, this High Court cannot exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in terms of Paragraph 3 of Article 245 of the Constitution. If we were to accept the above contention of the petitioner, the above petition which was filed on 13-10-1988, is itself misconceived and is liable to be dismissed on that ground. However, we may observe that no document has been produced alongwith the above petition in order to show that the Armed Forces have been called upon to act in aid of civil power in terms of Article 245 of the Constitution.
4. As regards merits of the case, it may be observed that the petitioner has submitted that since there are restrictions of becoming a member of the respondents political parties, it involves violation of Article 17 of the Constitution. In our view the above contention is devoid of any force as under Article 17 of the Constitution every citizen has the right to form associations or unions, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan, public order or morality. There is no right guaranteed that a political party is bound to admit a person as its member though he may have different view on the political matters It is well- recognized principle in the world wherever there is democracy a party may have its own rules for admitting a person as its member and may have its own manifesto. The above petition is misconceived and, therefore, it is dismissed in limine.