ECP, CEC replies sought in dissidents’ case

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja to submit their replies on April 29 in a case pertaining to de-seating of dissident PTI lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly.

The petition, filed by PTI’s parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Muhammad Sibtain Khan, was heard by Justice Shujaat Ali Khan.

Earlier this month, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz won the election for Punjab chief minister by bagging 197 votes including 26 from PTI dissidents.

The move prompted Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to send a reference to the ECP against dissident PTI MPAs.

The petition states names of 25 lawmakers who cast their vote in favour of the joint opposition. These include Raja Sagheer Ahmad, Malik Ghulam Rasool Sanga, Saeed Akbar Khan, Muhammad Ajmal, Faisal Hayat, Mehr Muhammad Aslam, Mian Khalid Mehmood, Abdul Aleem Khan, Nazir Ahmad Chohan, Muhammad Amin Zulqarnain, Malik Nauman Langrial, Muhammad Salman, Zawar Hussain Warraich, Nazir Ahmad Khan, Fida Hussain, Zahra Batool, Muhammad Tahir, Ayesha Nawaz, Sajida Yousaf, Haroon Imran Gill, Uzma Kardar, Malik Asad Ali, Ijaz Masih, Muhammad Sibtain Raza and Mohsin Atta Khosa.

It also adds that the 25 MPAs named in the petition had been issued directions by the PTI but they had cast their votes for Hamza. They had been issued show cause notices to explain their position but had not replied.

It is pertinent to mention that ECP had on Monday issued notices to 46 dissident members of the National and Punjab assemblies, asking them to appear before it on April 28 and May 6.