ECP to judge two PTI lawmakers' eligibility

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday initiated disqualification proceedings against two PTI lawmakers, fixing the preliminary hearing for October 21.

The reference against PTI Senator Saifullah Abro was sent to the ECP by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, while another reference against Sohail Sultan, a PTI member of the National Assembly (MNA) from Swat district, was moved by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Both the references stemmed from the complaints of ordinary citizens. According to the ECP cause list, the preliminary hearing of the references regarding the disqualification of the two members of parliament would be held on October 21.

The reference against Senator Abro, sent by the Senate Secretariat after approval from Chairman Gilani, was initiated on the request of Majid Mahmood, an Islamabad resident.

The complainant alleged that Abro did not meet the qualifications to hold a Senate seat reserved for technocrats.

He said that the information provided by Abro in the affidavit about his dependents, agricultural income and assets was misleading. The reference to the ECP stated that if such allegations were proved, Abro could be disqualified under Article 63 of the Constitution and the Election Act, 2017.

On the other hand, the reference against MNA Sohail Sultan was initiated on the request of a Swat resident, Nasrullah Khan. He said that the MNA worked as the deputy attorney general in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa before the election.

According to the law, a government employee could not contest any election until two years after the termination of his government employment. On the complaint, the Speaker sent the reference to the ECP after completing the necessary legal formalities.