NA Speaker rejects all four references against PM Nawaz
References have been forwarded to the Election Commission.
ISLAMABABAD (Dunya News) – National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq today (Monday) rejected all four references seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification from NA membership for allegedly violating articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution in the wake of revelations made in the Panama Papers.
As per the articles, only a righteous and pious person can be a member of a legislative assembly.
The NA Speaker had received eight references, out of which, four were filed against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, two against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, one against Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Achakzai and one against PTI leader Jahangir Tareen.
Ayaz Sadiq rejected and returned Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s reference, stating that his 182-page reference contains insufficient evidence against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, thus, he cannot be disqualified.
Giving clean chit to Nawaz Sharif and Mehmood Achakzai, the NA Speaker forwarded remaining references to the Election Commission, stating that their disqualification is out of question.
He also stated Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen’s disqualification could be brought into consideration.
References against Imran and Tareen were submitted by PML-N’s Daniyal Aziz, Talal Chaudhry and Maiza Hameed on August 5.
Imran was accused of concealing details about offshore companies while Tareen was accused of concealing details of his assets in the nomination papers for elections.
Speaking to reporters at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad, Imran Khan criticised the NA Speaker for not ‘acting neutral’ on the matter.
Why was a petition even filed against me? There has been no revelation of corruption or money laundering about me- @ImranKhanPTI
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 5, 2016
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is facing barrage of criticism from the opposition parties after The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in the Panama Papers revealed the offshore holdings of members of his family. However, he denies any wrongdoing.
