ECP rejects claim of prolonging Gilani video scandal case

Says petitioners sought adjournment 10 out of 17 times

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected the claim of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that it deliberately prolonged the video scandal case against Opposition Leader in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Sources told The Express Tribune that final arguments in the case took place on April 5. The video scandal involves Gilani and his son Ali Haider Gilani. Gilani’s son can be seen clearly in the video trying to bribe senators to vote for his father ahead of the Senate elections.

The sources in the electoral watchdog accused Qureshi of “misleading” the lawmakers and the people on the floor of the lower house of parliament.

Sources also revealed that the disqualification case was mostly delayed by the petitioners, who sought adjournment 10 out of 17 times.

They disclosed that the electoral watchdog did not adjourn the case even once.

Earlier in the day, Qureshi made the allegation during the National Assembly’s crucial session held for the no-confidence vote in the light of the Supreme Court decision on the matter.

The minister during the session had pointed out how the decision in the said case had been pending for one year.