Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Following disqualification by the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday de-notified Jahangir Khan Tareen as member of the National Assembly but he can still retain his office of the secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) under a specific legislation enacted a few month back to help ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif regain presidency of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

According to reports, PTI chief Imran Khan has already directed Jahangir Tareen to continue performing duties as secretary general of the party, which became legal because of the legislation passed by parliament after disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court in Panama case. After disqualification of Nawaz by Supreme Court, the PML-N successfully managed to pass an election bill from the parliament which allowed any person disqualified from holding public office to retain party leadership. As a result, Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as party head. However, it is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan had been repeatedly criticising the said legislation and his party opposed it in the National Assembly as well. But, now he himself is taking the cover of same legislation by asking Tareen to continue with his responsibilities in the party. Eminent jurist Justice (r) Wajihuddin Ahmed had stated at that time: “Tomorrow, this omitted clause can also benefit Asif Zardari who also faces the axe in corruption scams.

Moreover, sincdae the courts may also disqualify Imran Khan, this arrangement may benefit PTI too.” A notification issued by ECP to de-notify Tareen as MNA on Friday stated: “Consequent upon disqualification of Jahangir Khan Tareen from being MNA by Supreme Court of Pakistan in judgment passed, the Election Commission of Pakistan hereby de-notifies Jahangir Khan Tareen as Member National Assembly of Pakistan from constituency No NA-154 Lodhran-I with immediate effect.” Tareen had defeated PML-N’s Siddique Baloch in the by-poll held in December 2015.

Published in Daily Times, December 16^th 2017.