ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday suspended the proceedings of the references seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with the Panama Leaks, ARY News reported.
The ECP decided to suspend the hearing of the references until the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) issues its verdict in the Panama Papers case.
Earlier, the prime minister’s counsel Salman Aslam Butt had pleaded to the commission for seeking suspension of the hearing till the matter decides in the apex court, which is hearing the same matter. The lawyer, in his plea, asked ECP to suspend the hearing as the Supreme Court also hearing the Panama Leaks case.
The opposition criticized the prime minister’s petition, stating that ECP should continue to hear the cases as it is an independent state entity.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Awami Muslim League (AML) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) had filed separate references against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Capt. Safdar and Hamza Shahbaz seeking their disqualification.
