ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court today stopped the ECP from holding by-election on NA-95 Mianwali-I seat which fell vacant following Imran Khan’s disqualification in the Toshakhana reference case.
Justice Aamer Farooq of IHC passed this order on Monday on a petition filed by the PTI chief in which he has challenged his disqualification by the ECP. The court also issued notices to the ECP in this case.
While hearing the petition the IHC judge asked from the counsel of Imran Khan whether he had submitted any request to provide additional documents.
Barrister Ali Zafar, Imran Khan’s counsel told the court that he had submitted a request to add ECP’s notification. Khan’s legal counsel said his client was de-seated from NA-95 Mianwali-I seat after he was disqualified in the Toshakhana reference case.
Ali Zafar told the court that once the speaker sends a reference to the ECP, the commission has to submit its findings of the case. He explained that the ECP is supposed to to do this process within 90 days.
He further said each MNA has to submit their asset details by June 30. If someone sells something, the income has to be disclosed in documents submitted to the ECP.
Barrister Ali Zafar pointed out that there was no penalty or disqualification for misdeclaration. However, a lawmaker can be jailed for up to three years along with fine.
However, Justice Farooq turned down the request and issued orders to stop the by-election in Mianwali. The court also issued notices to the ECP against Imran Khan’s disqualification.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
