ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counsel for terming Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as biased, saying the PTI reference can be rejected on this.
The ECP heard the reference against PTI chief Imran Khan and Jahangir Tarin forwarded by Speaker National Assembly. Naeem Bokhari appeared on behalf of the PTI leaders before the commission.
During the hearing, the Prime Minister’s counsel Akram Sheikh pleaded the Commission to rehear the reference for disqualification of Jahangir Tarin on which the commission had reserved its judgment.
On this, PTI counsel objected and submitted that the ECP was neither a tribunal nor returning officer. He added that after election, ECP’s jurisdiction got limited. The PTI counsel said that the reference was forwarded to the ECP by the Speaker and he should defend it.
During the hearing, the PTI counsel said that the Bani Gala property was bought in 2003 and the issue was not raised at the time of election. He added that the property was gifted to Khan Sahib against 4o.35 million. He added that the Bani Gala property was a transaction issue between a husband and wife which was completed from 2002 to 2005.
Bokhari while dubbing Speaker National Assembly as biased said that Imran Khan had fought election against Sadiq due to which he had grudges against Imran.
The Chief Election Commissioner said that if contesting of election made Sadiq as biased then every speaker would be biased? Bokhari replied that Ayaz Sadiq showed bias by forwarding the reference.
Addressing the PTI lawyer the CEC said that on the issue of bias the PTI reference can be rejected. He told the PTI counsel that if he wanted to give further argument the Commission was ready to hear to him.
Later the hearing of the case was adjourned till tomorrow.
