ECP adjourns disqualification hearing against Imran, Tareen till Dec 26

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday adjourned hearing of the disqualification references against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and PTI leader Jahangir Tareen till December 26.

A five-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Mohammad Raza heard the case today.

PML-N leaders Talal Chaudhry and Mohammad Khan Daha requested to the commission for appointment of Akram Shaikh as their new lawyer and sought more time from the commission.

The CEC said that the commission wants to hear the case and give verdict on the references against Jahangir Tareen and Imran Khan simultaneously.

The counsel of Jahangir Tareen objected over the matter and said that the lawyer could not be changed after the bench has reserved its decision. He also said that the government side deliberately using delaying tactics.

Imran Khan’s counsel Naeem Bukhari argued that the reference was sent by the Speaker so as the filer of the reference have become irrelevant, the Speaker should himself defend his reference.

Imran Khan in the previous hearing submitted his reply in the ECP over disqualification reference rejecting all accusations against him mentioned in the reference.

The lawyers of both politicians had said that the references filed against their clients were baseless and beyond the legal framework.

The bench adjourned the hearing till December 26.

The hearing of the disqualification reference against Capt. Safdar was adjourned till December 19.