Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has adjourned till December 26 the hearing of disqualification references filed by the National Assembly (NA) speaker against Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen, while the hearing of disqualification reference against Capt (Retd) Safdar, son in law of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has been put off till December 19.

Disqualification references against PTI chairman Imran Khan, Jahangir Tarin and Capt (Retd) Safdar came up for hearing before a 3-member bench of ECP presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza on Thursday. The counsel for PML-N member assembly Talal Chaudhry and Muhammad Khan Daha requested the ECP to change their counsel and are appointing Akram Sheikh as their counsel. They are requesting more time.

Counsel for Jahangir Tareen raised objections, saying counsel cannot be changed after the decision was reserved. The ECP remarked “we want to make our decision simultaneously after hearing cases against Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen.” Naeem Bokhari, counsel for Jahangir Tareen said reference has been filed by the speaker NA, therefore the members of assembly who have filed references have become irrelevant. The Speaker will have to defend his reference. “We are ready for arguments today,” he added.

Counsel for Jahangir Tareen said PML-N was using delaying tactics deliberately. CEC remarked one member of the ECP had to undergo an eye operation. The ECP adjourned the hearing of disqualification references against Capt (Retd) Safdar till December 19. PTI spokesman Naeem ul Haq said PML-N is using dilatory tactics to escape accountability. ECP was to announce decision today but PML-N is trying to prolong the case on the pretext of changing the counsel.

Counsel for PML-N says in ECP that a case is pending hearing in Supreme Court (SC) and on the other hand he took the plea in SC that the case is in election commission. He went on to say PTI would expose the corruption of the rulers at every cost.

PTI legal advisor Fawad Chaudhry said the government has changed over half a dozen lawyers. Speaker NA has hurt the dignity of parliament by not allowing PTI to speak in the National Assembly (NA). NA speaker has become the spokesperson of PM. He has made his position controversial after having elected his Munshi as mayor of Lahore.

He held that PTI had started preparations for the upcoming general election and soon mass contact campaigns would be launched. “We will continue to chase rulers to bring Panama scandal to its logical end,” he underlined.