SC de-seats PML-N MNA Iftikhar Cheema
Iftikhar Cheema had been elected to the National Assembly from Gujranwala's NA-101 constituency.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Monday de-seated Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) lawmaker Iftikhar Cheema for concealing facts while filing nomination papers, Dunya News reported.
Iftikhar Cheema had been elected to the National Assembly from Gujranwala’s NA-101 constituency. The apex court announced the decision on a petition filed by opposition candidate Ahmed Chatha.
The plaintiff alleged that the respondent had concealed details of his assets and bank statements while filing his nomination papers to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to contest NA-101 election.
The defense lawyer argued that his client did not hide anything. One of the accounts mentioned in the petition has been closed while another one is for mosque funds.
He said Ifikhar Cheema also gifted his Rawalpindi and Islamabad houses, thus, he didn’t commit any dishonesty in the nomination papers.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked that Iftikhar Cheema is not a common person. He has remained member of the National Assembly in the previous government as well.
The PML-N lawmaker should have revealed proper details of his assets and property, Justice Jamali said.
The court disqualified Iftikhar Cheema from his seat and ordered re-election in NA-101.
