ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday filed a case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, among others, for their alleged involvement in corruption in the distribution of party tickets for the Punjab Assembly elections.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, PMLN leaders Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and Ataullah Tarar filed the reference.
The reference urges the Election Commission to take legal action against the nominees for graft and corruption.
This reference was filed under Article 218(3) of the Constitution and the Elections Act, 2017.
PP 137 ticket holder Abuzar Chadhar, Mian Uzair, Chairperson Conciliation Committee for Central Punjab Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and PTI Secretary General Asad Umar have also been made parties in the reference.
The transcript of the alleged audio leak of Najam Saqib, son of Justice (R) Saqib Nisar is also attached with the reference.
The leaked audio allegedly shows two separate telephonic conversations between Najam Saqib and Abuzar Chadhar and another person, Mian Uzair. The trio can reportedly be heard talking about the recently released provincial assembly ticket by PTI.
PMLN leaders said that the reference was filed due to blatant financial and moral corruption. He said that a political party has flouted the law, democratic ethics and the party is contaminating politics by corruptly giving tickets and asked the Election Commission to take action against the violation of the Constitution, Law and Election Act. Do it. He said that the persons mentioned in the reference are directly involved in this crime while Imran Khan himself gave the party ticket last week.
PMLN leaders said they were exposed by an audio that went viral on informal and formal media on April 29. The audio shows that these people were directly involved in the crime.
Article 218 (3) states that “It shall be the duty of the Election Commission to conduct and conduct elections and to make such arrangements as may be necessary to ensure that the elections are held honestly, fairly, fairly and in accordance with law.” I agree. , and that it is guarded against corrupt practices.”
Similarly, Section II (8) of the Elections Act, 2017 – Power of the Commission to ensure fair elections – states, “Provided otherwise, the Commission shall – (a) at any stage of the election at one or more polling stations; may stop polling at the election if it believes that it has not ensured the fair, just and lawful conduct of the election due to widespread corruption including coercion, intimidation and coercion during the election. (b) review any order passed by an officer under this Act or the Rules, including the rejection of a ballot paper; and (c) issue such directions, exercise such powers and make such consequential orders. do what, in his opinion, is necessary to ensure that the elections are fair, just, fair and in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Rules. In a related development, Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf audio A special committee of the National Assembly has been formed to investigate the leak.
According to the notification issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, Muhammad Aslam Bhutani will be the chairman of the special committee, while Khalid Hussain Magsi, Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Naz Baloch, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Muhammad Abu Bakr, Syed Hussain Tariq, Chaudhry Muhammad Burjees are included. Tahir, Wajiha Qamar and Dr. Muhammad Afzal Dhandla are its members. The special committee will seek assistance from any institution and investigative agency for the investigation and inquiry into the audio leak and submit its report to the National Assembly after a comprehensive investigation.
The lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved a motion to set up a special parliamentary committee to investigate the audio leak. JUI(F) Member of Parliament Shahida Akhtar Ali moved the House under Rule 244 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, 2007 to form a special parliamentary committee. The House empowered the Speaker National Assembly to nominate the Chairperson of the Committee.
The members of the committee are drawn from the allies of the government. According to the adjournment motion, the committee can summon any person for investigation and also seek cooperation from investigative agencies. The committee will also direct the forensic audit of the audio leak.
The 10-member National Assembly Special Committee on Audio Leak will refer the matter to the FIA for thorough investigation of the audio and turning it into concrete evidence.
