ISLAMABAD: Hearing references against Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and his party’s Secretary General Jahangir Tareen, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday asked the two leaders to submit their replies on 16th of this month.
The electoral body took up the disqualification references against Khan and Tareen earlier today sent by the National Assembly speaker.
Imran Khan’s legal adviser Hamid Khan represented him at the commission’s secretariat in Islamabad in connection with the reference.
“The ball is in our court and we have to make a decision now,” said the chief election commissioner during the hearing.
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PTI’s senior leader, Shah Mehmood Qureshi also appeared before the commission on Wednesday.
Speaking to media representatives about PTI’s announcement to withdraw its Islamabad ‘lockdown’ plan, Qureshi backed Khan’s decision.
“The decision to change the lockdown plan with thanksgiving rally was right and we are not disappointed at all. Nawaz Sharif’s investigation in the Panama Papers Leaks will begin now,” he said confidently.
The PTI was observing ‘Thanksgiving Day’ in the federal capital today (Wednesday) instead of a previously planned protest and sit-in.
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The abrupt decision came after the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Tuesday began hearing a case into the ‘Panama Papers’ leaks and offered to form a commission to investigate revelations that Sharif’s children held offshore bank accounts.
The court also asked the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family to submit an answer within two days.
Speaking to PTI workers and supporters outside his residence in Bani Gala yesterday, Imran Khan said, “For the first time in the history of Pakistan, an authority is being investigated.”
