ISLAMABAD - Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday rejected pleas filed by 15 independent senators aimed at joining ranks of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upper house of the parliament.

Following ECP’s verdict, Senate Secretariat has also decided to not allow merger of independent senators with PML-N.

After latest development, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has become largest party in the Senate with 20 members. PML-N has slipped to second spot with 17 members while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is at number third spot with 12 senators.

The number of independent senators stands at 33.

It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N-backed 15 members had decided to join treasury benches in upper house of the parliament.

EC ISSUES NOTICES TO HAMZA SHEHBAZ, OTHERS

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned till May 8 hearing of a case pertaining to filing a fake affidavit by National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq against PTI leader Aleem Khan.

The ECP also issued notices to Hamza Shehbaz, son of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, and other members of assembly for violating election code of conduct.

A 4-member bench of the ECP presided over by member Sindh Abdul Ghaffar Soomro took up for hearing fake affidavit case Wednesday.

Counsel for Aleem Khan told the commission that intra-court appeal had been filed in Lahore High Court (LHC) and its hearing will take place on April 02. This case should not be decided before LHC decision.

He further said that copy of reply filed by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz had not been provided to them.

The commission while directing to provide copy of reply to counsel for Aleem adjourned the hearing of the case till May 08.

Counsel for PML-N MPA Sultan Haider appeared before the commission in the case pertaining to violation of election code of conduct in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-20 Chakwal.

He took the plea that Hamza Shehbaz had inaugurated a marriage hall adjacent to the constituency. This marriage hall was located in the area of Mureed. On the other hand, Imran Khan had addressed a public gathering of millions of people but it could not be seen by monitoring team and objection was raised over the inauguration of marriage hall by Hamza Shehbaz.

Counsel for rival candidate took the plea that the area wherein the marriage hall is located is part of PP-20  “ I had filed application with DRO that this marriage hall is situated in PP-20 and as a result of it fine was imposed on PML-N MPA Sultan Haider but he did not pay fine.

Member PK of EC inquired if they paid the fine amount within 3 days.

The counsel for MPA Sultan Haider said they had challenged the fine.

The EC  accepted Sultan Haider appeal against imposition of fine.

The EC while issuing notices to Hamza Shahbaz, Tahir Iqbal, Sardar Zulfiqar and Chaudhry Khurshid  Beg for violating electoral code of conduct adjourned the hearing of the case till April 19.