Punjab government spokesperson Zaeem Qadri was referring to PTI chief Imran Khan's disqualification from NA. PHOTO: NNI
In a rather unfortunate slip of tongue, Punjab government spokesperson Zaeem Qadri while speaking about PTI chief Imran Khan's disqualification said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be disqualified from the National Assembly within 90 days.
"God willing Nawaz Sharif will be disqualified within 90 days," Qadri said while addressing the media on Wednesday.
The top poll supervisory body on Tuesday gave three weeks to the prime minister and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief to submit their comments on pleas seeking their disqualification from the National Assembly.
Disqualification pleas: Nawaz, Imran get three-week respite
A full bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took up the petitions against PM Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan that allege the leaders of concealing their assets from authorities to evade taxes.
The petitions against PM Nawaz and his family members were filed by PTI, Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami Muslim League, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and an individual named Prof Waheen Kamal after the Panama Papers revealed that three scions of the Sharif family had secreted their money in international tax havens.
On August 17, the election commission had issued notices to the premier, his younger brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Shahbaz’s son Hamza Shahbaz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the premier’s son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar to submit their replies on September 6.
The federal government apparently resorted to delaying tactics as its lawyer sought time to submit replies against the disqualification of the prime minister and his close relatives.
PM’s disqualification: PTI requests SC to reconsider plea deemed frivolous
When the bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan took up the case, Advocate Salman Butt said the defence was not prepared to argue against the disqualification petitions.
He requested the ECP to give him more time for submitting replies from the respondents.
The petitioners’ counsel, especially Hamid Ali Khan representing the PTI, argued that notices were served on August 17 and the government’s lawyer should have prepared himself for the arguments.
However, the ECP bench asked the premier’s counsel to submit replies in the next hearing and adjourned the case till September 28.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ