ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party yesterday submitted a reference in the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification.
The PPP submitted a 75-paged reference against the PM in which he was accused of hiding his assets thus violating the condition of Sadiq (truthful) and Amin (just).
Citing Panama leaks, it was requested that action be taken against the prime minister in accordance with Article 62 and 63 of the constitution for his and his family’s involvement in corruption. The reference was filed by PPP leader Latif Khosa.
Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf had earlier filed a reference against the prime minister in the ECP. The PTI was told its reference will be heard after filling of the vacant seats of the ECP members.
The ECP had become practically non-functional after its all four members retired on June 12. Under the constitution, the ECP comprises the Chief Election Commissioner and four members - representing one to each province.
In the absence of the ECP members the fate of references and other cases pending in the ECP hanging in balance till the appointment of the new members.
Speaking to journalists, Khosa said that the party will ensure the Panama leaks issue gets investigated by the National Accountability Bureau, further stating that PPP shall not back corruption or rigging.
He said PM Nawaz Sharif was a defaulter of Rs 6 billion, adding that a person who paid taxes of a few thousand rupees cannot have billions to his name.
The PPP leader said that the government intended to save the Prime Minister from being held accountable.
Khosa said that evidences regarding PM’s involvement in money laundering were submitted in the reference. “The PM is no longer Sadiq (truthful) and Amin (just),” Khosa said.
He said the PPP had prepared reference against Prime Minister Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s son-in-law Mohammed Safdar and nephew Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.
The reference had enough evidence for declaring them disqualified, PPP leader claimed.
Last week PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had given a go-ahead to the party to file a reference against PM Sharif in the ECP. The party had also mocked that Sharif was avoiding returning home due to the Panama leaks.
The latest political tussle comes amidst deadlock in formation of joint Terms of References by 12-member parliamentary committee. A parliamentary committee formed to finalise the ToR for the Panama leaks investigation failed to come up with results when its deadline expired recently. The opposition parties have warned of protests if the government failed to satisfy them.
Panama Papers had released data of a law firm, Mossack Fonseca which was leaked by an anonymous source. The data was studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and then published with related documents.
Prime Minister Sharif is in London recovering from a heart surgery. His cabinet members suggest, he will be back before or immediately after Eid – to be celebrated in the first week of July.