PPP files petition with ECP seeking disqualification of PM, his four relatives

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday, seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his four relatives from the National Assembly for not fulfilling requirements under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The PPP contingent, comprising Sardar Latif Khosa and Faisal Kareem Kundi, also named Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Captain Safdar and Hamza Shahbaz in the reference.

"PM Nawaz is not ‘sadiq’ and ‘amin’ anymore and therefore is not eligible to hold a seat in the NA," the petition said.

The reference claims Nawaz and Shahbaz have hidden assets of various family members and that Dar also kept secret his son's assets.

It alleges that PM's daughter, Mariam Nawaz's assets are concealed by her husband Captain Safdar.

The PPP had on Saturday finalised the draft of the reference it filed with the ECP today.

“PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has approved the draft of the reference to be filed in the ECP to seek disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as well as retired Capt Muhammad Safdar and Hamza Shahbaz, members of the National Assembly,” PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar had told Dawn on Saturday.

Asked whether the PPP had made up its mind to file the reference following in the footsteps of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), he said: “Mr Bhutto-Zardari had approved the draft in the June 24 meeting of the party’s senior leadership whereas the PTI filed the reference after that.”

Over a month ago, on the directive of Mr Bhutto-Zardari, the PPP’s legal team prepared the draft of the reference but did not get a final nod of the chairman to file it. A source said the draft was also sent to former president Asif Ali Zardari who finally gave a go-ahead.

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Muhammed Ali UK

Jun 27, 2016 04:17pm

Did they not know these facts when the darna was going on and they stood behind him? Two faced as always, no wonder our country is a 3rd world country in such a mess.

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Khalid

Jun 27, 2016 04:25pm

Well, let us see what happens to this court case. Bilawal Zardari has approved the draft so it must be a good one!!.

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Arslan

Jun 27, 2016 04:26pm

Charter of Corruption ... oops I meant 'Democracy' .. is dead it seems now that PPP are going for the Shariff family.

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F Khan

Jun 27, 2016 04:30pm

Now I can bet doomsday is just around the corner.PPP filing petition to ECP on corruption against PM.

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Houlbelat

Jun 27, 2016 04:39pm

Can someone file a case for finding those in the country, who actually and genuinely qualify on the conditions prescribed in Articles 62 & 63 of the Constitution? I am sure not a handful of such persons would be found.

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naji

Jun 27, 2016 04:55pm

The strategy is going to be set by individual parties like, PPP, PTI and others. No one like to give credit to other for deposition of Nawaz sharif. According to assessment Nawaz sharif may not back once reference will file, or NAB or some other agency will take up PM disqualification case. Now Nawaz sharif will understand the name of Pakistani politics, where there is no principle, ethics, logic and foresightedness.

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Harmony-1©

Jun 27, 2016 04:59pm

@Muhammed Ali UK - FYI, Panama came after dharna!

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Zak

Jun 27, 2016 05:00pm

and people want to get rid of them both PPP PMLn

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Zak

Jun 27, 2016 05:02pm

All this is just to halt IK for pretest after Eid typical PPP gameplay.

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Harmony-1©

Jun 27, 2016 05:05pm

@F Khan - If there is a crime, it doesn't mean PPP can't raise voice against it. Intransigence and insomnia against any wrongdoing is the real problem!

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Imran khan Sydney

Jun 27, 2016 05:11pm

I believe all these polititions should be disqualified due to their existing corrupt record. But unfortunately they get the power turn by turn. Blame game is going on for years. Until these people selected our country getting worst to worst. The graph is going down.

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Muhammed Ali UK

Jun 27, 2016 05:11pm

@Harmony-1© So is democracy not their 1st priority now? PPP is only doing this now because Dr Asim & Co, tell me why is Mr Zardari sitting abroad? They change like the wind..PPP are trying to get Nawaz caught out on 62 63 loan write offs, was not that the case during darna or has Nawaz just taken these loans out now??

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Muhammed Ali UK

Jun 27, 2016 05:12pm

@Harmony-1© They have never raised a voice before "democracy is in danger" has always been their call..they are hypocrites that is all..

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Harmony-1©

Jun 27, 2016 05:17pm

@Muhammed Ali UK - Whatever the reason...all crimes need to be punished...and take one at a time...not all at once.

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iftikhar choudry

Jun 27, 2016 05:19pm

Nothing is going to happen.

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Imran khan Sydney

Jun 27, 2016 05:19pm

No party is sincere to Pakistan and their people. All of them behave like they will not face the day of judgment.

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SHAH

Jun 27, 2016 05:27pm

Corruption can only be eradicated in Pakistan if we educate our 50 million youth and common man otherwise masses will vote and elect the same ruler PPP and PML Nawaz again and again!

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Hadi Awan

Jun 27, 2016 05:29pm

Great strategy by PTI. I hope it plays out. PTIs only threat is PMLN since they do atleast 50% of what they say and corruption is at 50% and they are doing visible projects like building roads. Once PMLN is out of the way and PPP is left, PTI will destroy them because the difference is night and day between PTI and PPP. PPP in its 5 year tenure didn't do any visible impact as corruption was all time high. Interestingly economy grew by equally as much in time of PPP as PMLN and this is despite floods in PPP time and even given the reduced oil prices PMLN couldn't pull off any greater growth. This is due to Ishaq Dars ineffectual policies. Optics however is better during PMLN time because of roads and other infrastructure projects.

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M.Malik

Jun 27, 2016 05:49pm

And the ongoing saga of accusations and denials will continue, until 2018.

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Harmony-1©

Jun 27, 2016 05:48pm

@SHAH - If justice is given properly then corruption can be tackled - the biggest cancer. Investigative authorities like NAB, FIA need to be independent too.

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Mahmood

Jun 27, 2016 05:53pm

When it comes to Pakistani political scene, every one has skeletons in their closets. Now one is completely honest. Otherwise they will not be in politics.

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ahaq

Jun 27, 2016 05:52pm

Will PML-N now make PPP the target of its revenge by throwing counter corruption charges against PPP leaders? I doubt since both parties are in a similar corruption mess. PML-N leaders did everything to dig dirt and throw at PTI leaders but failed.

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Syed

Jun 27, 2016 05:55pm

PPP stands as the ultimate winner in the fight between PMLN & Pti...... Brilliantly played. IK lacks vision, he always plays in the wrong hands.

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Farrukh Arshad

Jun 27, 2016 06:01pm

@HOULBELAT: Nailed it sir, the parliament will be empty the. And all our problems will be solved if we only very strictly adhere to this Article of constitution.

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The Observer

Jun 27, 2016 06:11pm

Can they name one politicoian who is "Sadiq" and "Amin" ?

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Muhammed Ali UK

Jun 27, 2016 06:18pm

@Harmony-1© Brother if we go by 1 a time we will be here till the day of Qayamat, all we need is to put the big fish behind bars once the public see that these big fish are not getting away with it they will think twice.. but if i steal 10 billion Rupees and get a clean chit from NAB by only paying back 6 billion and not going to jail then that will only encourage others to steal..

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Harmony-1©

Jun 27, 2016 06:19pm

@Farrukh Arshad - No, the country is not completely devoid of 'some good men'. If you think you may be better than most then there are surly more.

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Shahid

Jun 27, 2016 06:22pm

Nobody needs to count these chickens until and unless they roost out of cage of corruption with clipped and clean feathers. The real problem is it is just for show on both sides. If those who are 'government', should have done honest about justice instead of threats of revenge should PPP dare standing up, there could have been some hope. As for PTI, despite proving wrongdoings in the named constituencies, in the middle of corruptionful norms, they seem helpless. That is until and unless people start to see the situation their way. PML-N keeps providing enough ineligibility on ongoing basis. Yet if no flower sprouts on the tree of justice, nation has to go on living in this jungle of fruitless trees; helpless and hopeless.

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Harmony-1©

Jun 27, 2016 06:28pm

@Muhammed Ali UK - O' bhai starting with a million at once will take us to Qayamat; not one at a time. Let's start with the one at the helm (and IK too, if you want) and follow with the rest. If the ruler is corrupt himself, why will he go after the others? What is stopping the government to persecute the other corrupts anyway? Only because they are in it themselves.

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Houlbelat

Jun 27, 2016 06:31pm

There must an amendment to put some provisions in Constitution for those who waste nation's time in useless tug-of-war on flimsy matters. But, no member would agree for any such amendment which cuts his own hands, no matter what party.

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M. Anwar Qureshi

Jun 27, 2016 06:30pm

The Sharif family must be banned for life from politics and to hold the public offices for life if we want to save Pakistan and eradicate CORRUPTION from govt quarters and public officials. For the time being, they all should be SUSPENDED right now and remain suspended until final adjudication of this case.

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Ali

Jun 27, 2016 06:59pm

The people of Pakistan demand "accountability" of the government and politicians. We support PPP and PTI for filing references against PM Nawaz Sharif under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. We demand not only disqualification, but appropriate punishment for the crimes committed. No politician can be above the law. PM Nawaz Sharif failed to declare all his family's assets as required by the Election Commission? He failed to pay income tax on his huge income? He failed to inform the parliament how he sent money overseas? He failed to inform the awam why did his family need secret Panama accounts? He is trying to block accountability?

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Alien

Jun 27, 2016 08:00pm

Well done p p p ..

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Ahsan Gul

Jun 27, 2016 08:06pm

There has to be accountabity about PanamaGate issue and PPP initiative is fine. But that doesn't mean PPP leader Zardari and party are angels. They are as corrupt as any other politicians but are so anxious to acquire political driving seat of our country. Believe me if it is not for our defense forces keeping them honest these our politicians will eat up our country as they have no limits to their greed.

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Parvez

Jun 27, 2016 08:40pm

Anything Zardari does....even if it's justified and right.....will be seen with suspicion......because that's his legacy.

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nac Paris

Jun 27, 2016 08:43pm

Nawaz should have resigned earlier when the resignation was demanded by the opposition to save the embrassment.

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