PTI joins PPP in seeking PM’s disqualification through ECP

PTI's Dr Yasmeen Rashid files reference against PM Nawaz Sharif for 'concealing assets'

ISLAMABAD: A day after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) hinted at leaving the dialogue process and instead filed graft cases against the Sharif family for keeping offshore holdings as revealed in Panama leaks, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) too filed on Friday a reference with the ECP, seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification.

Dr Yasmeen Rashid, who contested the 2013 general elections against the prime minister from NA-120 Lahore on a PTI ticket, has filed the reference against the PM with secretary ECP on concealing assets.

“We have enough evidence to disqualify the prime minister,” Dr Yasmeen said while speaking to media persons outside the ECP’s office in Islamabad.



“PTI has been left with only one option to take the matter of Panama Papers to court as any development on terms of reference (TOR) could not be made,” added party spokesperson Naeemul Haq.

Haq demanded that members of the top electoral body should be appointed at the earliest such that pending cases could be settled without delay.

Meanwhile, talking to media at his residence in Bani Gala, party chairman Imran Khan said the petition filed against the prime minister by his party was "a legal position that democracies follow”.

Despite filing the reference for PM’s disqualification in the ECP, the PTI chief cast doubts about the credibility of the electoral body, saying “This election commission is N-league’s election commission”.

“Judicial commission has given 40 findings regarding rigging in 2013 general elections but no action has been taken so far [by the ECP],” he said while addressing media men.

Imran rejected the government’s claim his party was trying to destabilise democracy.  “We are rather strengthening it,” he said.



“Democracy began with magna carta in the UK when industrialists demanded to bring the king under the rule of law. And in Pakistan we are also trying to bring King Nawaz Sharif under the law."

The cricketer-turned-politician warned his party will go to the Supreme Court in case the ECP refused to hear the reference and will eventually go for street protests.

The PTI chairman, however, denied any possibility of an electoral alliance with any party. “It is a one-point agenda and we are all united on anti-corruption agenda, accountability should begin from Nawaz Sharif.”