August 10, 2005	Wednesday	Rajab 4, 1426

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LAHORE, Aug 9: Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Qasim Zia on Tuesday filed with the speaker a disqualification reference against Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on charges of getting bank loans written off.

Mr Zia told reporters at his chamber in the Assembly secretariat before filing the reference that the leader of the house stood disqualified under Article 63(2) sub-section Q for getting written off loans worth Rs22.792 million from the Muslim Commercial Bank and Rs163 million from the United Bank.

Audited reports of both the financial institutions for years 2000 and 2002 mentioning Mr Elahi as well as his other family members as beneficiary of the facility were also distributed among the reporters.

PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah, PPP’s Rana Aftab, Naveed Chaudhry, Samiullah Khan and others were also present.

Mr Zia said the speaker was bound to send the reference to the Election Commission within 30 days as the Constitution was clear on the subject.

Rana Sana said the chief minister also stood disqualified for creating jeopardizing political atmosphere in the province by “promoting lotacracy through inducement and tyranny.”

Opposition members were being offered offices of chief minister’s adviser, parliamentary secretary, and district/tehsil nazims, he alleged.

Without citing relevant articles of the constitution, he declared that the tactics were violation of the basic law.

Another reference to this effect would be filed besides taking up the issue in next session of the house, he said.

The opposition would send a third reminder to the speaker on references filed against the MPAs who had changed loyalties and joined the ruling PML, Mr Zia said.

The references had been filed around three months ago.

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