ECP hears references

ISLAMABAD:

The ECP on Wednesday sought a response from Member of National Assembly from NA 262, Quetta, Adil Bazai, concerning a disqualification petition lodged against him for not voting in favour of budget and the 26th constitutional amendment.

A three-member bench of the Election Commission, chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, heard a reference filed by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif seeking the disqualification of Adil Bazai.

The National Assembly speaker forwarded the disqualification reference to the Election Commission at the request of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. The reference claims that Adil Bazai, who was elected independently and later joined PML-N, did not vote in favor of the finance bill despite directives from the parliamentary party.

Lawyers representing Adil Bazai and PML-N appeared before the Election Commission, where the Chief Election Commissioner asked about Bazai's whereabouts. His brother responded that they currently have no information on his location.

The Election Commission instructed the concerned party to provide a copy of the reference to Adil Bazai's lawyer and directed Bazai to submit his response by November 5.

Meanwhile, in another case, the lawyer for Sohail Sultan, a National Assembly member from NA-4 Swat and a member of the Sunni Ittehad Council, stated that the high court has issued a stay order until November 7. Now their case will be referred to the constitutional bench.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday granted PTI Senator Saifullah Abro additional time to submit his response in the disqualification reference, and adjourned the hearing until November 11.