Ruling coalition to push for Imran’s disqualification

Govt to launch 'operation clean sweep' to arrest PTI leaders after damning ECP verdict

ISLAMABAD:

The ruling coalition is apparently in no mood to rest on its laurels as it prepares to lay the groundwork to initiate a barrage of legal proceedings against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) damning report in the prohibited funding case – including preparing for the possibility of launching “operation clean sweep” against the party.

With top legal eagles on whose wings the imperilled ruling PML-N is hoping to fly high and fix its flagging political fortunes, the coalition government is trying its best to milk the constitutional provisions to corner the arch-rival.

The decision to take legal action against the PTI was taken in a meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The representatives of other allied parties also attended the meeting which discussed various political matters and the current scenario in the country.

Sources privy to the development said that the meeting has decided to get approval for putting Imran Khan and other party leaders' names on the Exit Control List (ECL). The matter will be presented during Thursday's (today) cabinet meeting.

Operation clean sweep

The allied parties decided that no party including the PTI would be allowed to protest in Islamabad's Red Zone. The sources added that the government is mulling launching an "operation clean sweep" against the PTI's provincial and central leadership in the coming days. As per the details, multiple teams would take part in the operation simultaneously throughout Pakistan.

The insiders revealed that after the ECP's verdict, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other departments concerned can take action against Imran and other party leaders. However, the advice of legal experts would be sought in this regard before taking any step.

In the meeting, it was also decided in principle to take legal action for the disqualification of the PTI chairman. The sources further revealed that the PTI leaders including Asad Qaiser, Qasim Suri, Imran Ismail, Shah Farman, Mian Mahmood and other leaders will be arrested and legal action would be taken against them.

It was decided that PTI MNA Najeeb Haroon, MPA Samar Ali Khan, and former MPA Seema Zia would also face action by the authorities. Other PTI members on the list include Tahir Iqbal, Mohammad Noman Afzal, Mohammad Arshad and Mohammad Rafique.

SC fixes plea against PTI

In a related development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed for hearing the petition filed against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, for allegedly making statements against state institutions.

The case will be heard by a two-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

The petition seeks the apex court’s directions to Imran Khan to stop giving statements against the institutions and establish a commission to take further action against the party leaders.

On Tuesday, the ECP said the former ruling party received 'prohibited funds' from 34 foreign nationals and 351 companies based outside the country.

The PTI was issued a show cause notice after the unanimous verdict — reserved in June earlier this year – by the three-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.

The electoral watchdog also declared that 13 'unknown' accounts have been found linked to the party and the submissions by PTI chief Imran Khan were 'inaccurate and wrong'.

The former premier had personally issued certificates to the ECP in regards to Article 13(2) of the PPO to the effect that PTI “does not receive funds from prohibited sources”, meaning thereby that the PTI is not a foreign-aided political party.

The election commission, in its verdict, also stated the party violated Article 17(3) (3) of the Constitution as the PTI failed to declare three bank accounts operated by the party's senior leadership and the concealment of 16 bank accounts by the party was a "serious lapse".