Arslan to file reference against Imran Khan

Seeks copies of PTI chief’s nomination papers before filing a plea to de-seat him.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan will now have to defend himself against more than a decade-old allegation of moral turpitude to secure his political future.

In retaliation to Imran Khan’s onslaught against him and his father, Arslan Iftikhar, the son of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Monday approached the election authorities to seek certain details before filing a reference to get the PTI chief de-seated.

He has sought copies of Imran’s nomination papers filed with the ECP before contesting the 2002 and 2013 general elections. Sources said Arslan plans to file a reference against the PTI chief, once he gets the required documents from the ECP.

Arslan is likely to take up the issue of Imran’s alleged moral turpitude and present a foreign court’s order regarding his alleged son born out of wedlock to a British-origin American lady, who is believed to have died a few years back.

Arslan claims that Imran has not made any mention of the alleged child in his nomination papers where all aspiring candidates have to declare details of their dependents.

Sources said Arslan wants to invoke Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution, which describes conditions for qualifications and disqualifications of a legislator. However, as the ambiguous Article was inserted during Zia’s era, it will have to be interpreted in clear terms by the courts.

Arslan Iftikhar – who resigned from Balochistan Investment Board last week after mounting criticism over his eligibility – has decided to confront the PTI chief on all forums. His father, Justice (retd) Iftikhar Chaudhry, is reportedly compiling a separate lawsuit against Imran.

Imran, once a staunch supporter of Justice Chaudhry, now accuses him of involvement in rigging in the last year’s general elections.

Procedure

According to rules, a reference seeking disqualification of a legislator is filed with the speaker of the respective assembly. Imran being member of National Assembly, such a reference, if filed, will be submitted to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of lower house of parliament.

The speaker has 30 days to make a decision on such a petition. If he rejects the reference, the issue dies down in the chamber of speaker. However, if he does not take any decision such a reference goes to the ECP for further action.

In both the cases, Imran can land into hot waters as the National Assembly speaker is his arch rival while he has been accusing the ECP of biasness.

The issue has popped-up at a time when the PTI has launched anti-government campaign against alleged rigging in the last year’s elections.

It is interesting that the NA’s Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s

Is one of the constituencies where Imran claims massive rigging took place in May 2013 elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2014.