PAT filed a reference for disqualification of Prime Minister

Pakistan Awami Tehreek has filed a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan for disqualification of the Prime Minister. The reference has been filed by PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and Ishtiaq Ch Advocate.

Talking to media after filing reference, Ishtiaq Ch Advocate said that the Prime Minister concealed the assets of his children. He did not reject or contradict the revelations made in the Panama papers. He said that the PM committed a crime by now showing assets in the tax returns in years 2011-12. He said that under Peoples’ Right to Representation Act 1976, all parliamentarians are legally bound to declare their assets publicly. He said that if any parliamentarian does not abide by this law, he loses the right to hold public office. He said that the Prime Minister has lost his right to representation under Section 12 of the Peoples’ Right to Representation Act 1976 because he lied and as a consequence, he is no more ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ as enshrined in Article 62 of the Constitution.

The PAT leader said that Mian Nawaz Sharif did not show Mayfare flats owned by him since 1994 in the election documents. He also reflected Ramzan Sugar Mill as loss-incurring and sick unit at a time when it was earning profit. He said that it is in this way that deviation from the Constitution was committed by telling a lie. He further said that the PM admitted to receiving a cash gift of worth Rs. 190 million from his daughter and son-in-law. The fact, however remains that a public office holder cannot receive a gift in the form of cash under the law.

Ishtiaq Ch Advocate further said that the Article 5 talks about loyalty with the state and the Constitution, whereas the PM deviated from this stipulation by lodging his wealth abroad which was earned from the unknown sources and it is for this reason he is not entitled to hold on to his office.

He further said that we have made Model Town case the part of the reference. He said that there is an FIR registered against the PM in the Model Town tragedy case and he has not appeared before any authorized investigative forum, which means that he is shy of facing the law and is involved in the tragedy in one way or the other, adding that this action of his comes under the jurisdiction of Article 62 that he is hiding something by choosing to stay out of the investigation process.

Speaking on the occasion, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that the PAT has filed the reference for disqualification of the PM, which is supported by sound proofs, constitutional citations, and solid arguments, adding it has yet to be seen how ECP responds to it. He said that the incomplete Election Commission is not being made complete through filling of vacant positions under a careful planning. He said that we would wait for some time and in case no response comes, we can go to the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well. He said that PAT will continue to fight the battle against the rulers at every front till they are held answerable.