August 23, 2007	Thursday	Sha’aban 9, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the disqualification reference against MNA Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan for September 5 asking her to respond to the points raised by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) in the reference.

National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain had sent the reference to the ECP seeking disqualification of Ms Awan for her decision to join the opposition People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) despite being elected on reserved seats for women on the recommendation of the party.

Talking to reporters after appearing before the ECP, Ms Awan said that she had asked the chief election commissioner that all those who had defected their parties after winning the elections in 2002 and joined the ruling party should also be summoned by the ECP.

She said there were a number of members of the parliament presently sitting in top government offices after winning the elections on the tickets of the PPP, the PML-N and the MMA.

Ms Awan and her lawyer Senator Sardar Latif Khosa alleged that the speaker had sent the reference to the ECP in a hurry due to personal enmity with Ms Awan, who belonged to the speaker’s constituency.