ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Secretariat and Law Ministry have joined hands to absolve Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a disqualification reference sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Sources told Daily Times that the NA Secretariat took a clear stance against the reference moved by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for disqualification of the prime minister under Article 63 of the constitution as his name surfaced in Panama leaks. NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has rejected the reference and said that this reference does not fall under Article 63. The ECP has no power to reopen the reference or change the speaker’s ruling. The ruling can be challenged in the court but the commission cannot proceed against Nawaz as the speaker’s ruling is supreme, sources added. The NA Secretariat took a stand that the PTI’s direct reference in the ECP has no legal or constitutional importance because reference against any lawmaker can be moved through the speaker’s office The speaker had to take a decision on the reference in 30 days or else it would automatically become the ECP’s property, sources clarified. Sources said now the ECP is bound to take action on references against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jehangir Khan Tareen, because the speaker has given a ruling that these references are according to law. On the other hand, the ECP has been told that it has no jurisdiction to take action against the PM, sources said. Law Secretary Karamat Niazi has told the Public Accounts Committee that it has no authority to investigate the matter. Interestingly, the NA Secretary backed Niazi despite PAC Chairman Khursheed Shah’s ruling that PAC can investigate this mega corruption scandal.