New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Wednesday announced that it would challenge the ordinance on convicted MPs and MLAs by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court.

The union cabinet cleared an ordinance on Tuesday to protect convicted MPs and MLAs from facing immediate disqualification. AAP president Arvind Kejriwal said Wednesday that his party would challenge the move in the Supreme Court.

"We will challenge the ordinance in the Supreme Court if it passes," said Kejriwal.

"The Supreme Court had said that laws should not be different for the common man and for MPs. This ordinance is against that," said Prashant Bhushan, advocate and AAP leader.

Kejriwal said he had written to President Pranab Mukherjee requesting a meeting with him before he signs the ordinance.

He said that his party leaders and he would try and meet the president to discuss the ordinance.

The government had decided to bring the ordinance after failing to get a bill to this effect passed in parliament during the recent monsoon session.

The ordinance would protect convicted MPs and MLAs from immediate disqualification provided their appeal against the conviction and sentence is admitted by a higher court within 90 days.