Disqualification petitions: ECP directs PM to file reply by Oct 10

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday sought reply from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by October 10 on the petitions filed by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking his disqualification for his alleged involvement in Panama Leaks scandal. The ECP heard the petitions seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The ECP bench was headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Sardar Raza Khan and comprising four of its members.

At the very outset of the hearing, the prime minister’s counsel raised questions over the ECP’s jurisdiction to hear the petition. The PM’s counsel, former attorney general Salman Butt, pleaded the ECP to first hear the objections raised by them over the ECP’s jurisdiction.

When CEC asked the PM’s counsel as to why they did not file reply, he replied that the prime minister was abroad so they could not file the reply. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s counsel

Sardar Latif Khosa said the PM counsel was trying to dictate the ECP. He contended that during the last hearing, the PM was directed to file reply but no reply was filed. Upon this the CEC said that it was the ECP’s authority to take a decision. Directing the prime minister to file reply, the ECP adjourned further hearing of the petition till October 10.