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PTI MNA disqualified from NA-162 over non-disclosure of assets
MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Rai Hasan Nawaz elected from the NA-162 constituency in Cheecha Watni was disqualified by an election tribunal in Multan over non-disclosure of assets.
Sources say Hasan Nawaz is in possession of assets worth Rs870 million, including a petrol pump, a Compressed Natural Gas pump, various properties rented by banks, a series of stores on GT Road near his Multan residence, a 36 kanal property on top of which Rai Iqbal Town is built and a Toyota Corolla car.
In addition, during his stint as managing director at Murtaza Haseeb Textile Mills Ltd., Nawaz took loans under his servant's and sister-in-law's names. Both claim they have not taken any such loans.
PML-N's Haji Muhammad Ayub had presented reports related to Hasan Nawaz's assets before the election tribunal during case proceedings which had commenced at the time Rai Hasan Nawaz was elected.
However, Hasan Nawaz would not attend hearings citing poor health and the case was delayed.
After a hearing today, the tribunal disqualified him from the seat.
The tribunal ordered re-election within 90 days for the seat and has imposed a lifetime ban on Rai Hasan Nawaz from contesting general elections.
Read more: SC suspends election tribunal verdict on NA-125, PP-155
The decision follows in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to suspend the de-seating of MNA Saad Rafique, who had earlier been de-notified from his NA-125 seat due to evidence of rigging in the constituency found by the election tribunal during investigations.
The tribunal's one-page verdict said that ballot bags had been opened with a sharp object and records had been tampered with. It also found that on average, each person had cast six votes each.
Because the evidence was merely circumstantial, and 'failed to prove rigging', the tribunal's decision to order re-elections for NA-125 was suspended by a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.
In his plea to the apex court, Rafique contended that the election tribunal's decision did not explicitly state that he was involved in rigging, and that the tribunal's decision pinpointed only seven polling stations as showing discrepancies ─ and these polling stations were not linked to him.
The apex court subsequently suspended the tribunal's decision for re-election in NA-125 and PP-155 constituencies and accepted Rafique's petition for hearing.
Read more: I'm being punished for Returning Officers' failure: Saad Rafique
Comments (50) Closed
I am sure Imran Khan will support the decision since he himself does not want dishonest people in his party
In this democratic system the scum of society rises to the top. Just read the details provided by Dawn. In order to strengthen the system there should be a filtration process so that the scum is not allowed to flow into politics. Too late a decision by the election tribunal.
IK should expel these corrupt people from party who are not transparent.
I sure hope PTI accepts this decision gracefully and abide by the election tribunal orders. Time to take the high road!
Wakeup time for PTI
The good thing is all cheaters, riggers, looters, liars, hoarders are being cleaned out from all parties. Thank you IK and PTI.
After his disqualification on hiding assets, Rai Hassan Nawaz must be expelled from PTI. If such cheats have place in PTI, then I am afraid PTI is just like any other political party and cannot claim a high moral ground or a party of change. I and all the well wishers and supporters of PTI would like to see the action taken in this case to set example for others.
Good step by EC tribunal, setting up new standards for its due role. PTI shall not challenge this decision if it is indeed the case, which seems so.
Most of the politicians in Pakistan are corrupt and dishonest. It is hard to find a clean one. Imran Khan will have to be extra careful to find clean ones.
There is no place for dishonest people in Pakistan. Disqualification is not a punishment really. His accumulation of wealth should be probed and confiscated if proved wrong doing.
VERY GOOD. LAW IS ABOVE THE LAW MAKERS
PTI - a No Exception
I am waiting to see the comments of PTI angels on this disqualification.
Although i am a supporter of righteous acts of PTI, yet i appriciate the decision. There should be no place for such people at any representative post.
Whats the difference between nondisclosure and fake-disclosure of assets? I have a hard time believing that all/most of PML has been honest.
To exercise right of appeal is not bad, Tribunal decision is mostly reversal of course there is difference between PMLN and PTI. Corrupt leaders are not required in politics.
It just goes to prove that the PTI has not done an adequate job of vetting its own candidates. So much of Naya Pakistan.
IK accepted that there was rigging in party elections , did not expelled any one out of party but appointed the same corrupt people as care takers in the party .. same way he will not expel this person ....
As a PTI supporter, I am happy to see the party being cleansed of the scum. I'm positive IK will not support this guy.
Funny how the PTI fanboys are appreciating and saying Imran Khan will support this decision, this has been in the courts for a while, and his own party member was using delaying tactics. What do the fanboys like saying, "justice delayed is justice denied". Stop pretending it's an honest party folks. I would have appreciated if they investigated the members they took in before partaking in the election.
Some of the comments made are suggesting that the PTI MNA should not appeal against ET decision. I don't agree. The law allows him to take the matter to a higher court. Only he himself need to be confident enough that he can challenge this ruling. If he is clean, he should better get his name cleared from a higher court.
Democratic process is finally working ... Like they say, charity begins from home ... so cleansing also begins from home ... I hope PTI will take the lead in accepting this decision and this may prove to be the first drop of rain in the lengthy but long lasting process of political cleansing .... long live PTI
@farhat - please look at profile of every MNA who won election on PTI tickets , most of them came from other parties that IK thinks are corrupt , so if you cleanse all of them IK will be left alone. funny thing is IK is accepting all of known thugs in his party and thinks he can deliver change...for IK meaning of change is to become PM.
Good decision, take on others as well.
Since PPP has lost its stature now we can watch a new arena where PTI and PML(N) are ready for a real showdown.
Election Commission should make sure that all the winning candidates in the National assembly and provincial assemblies in the last election had submitted details of their assets and they were correct.
It seems as if election tribunal is acting as free, fair and transparent institution.Special punishments and heavy fines should be imposed to make a role model for entire politicians.Pakistan is awake now !!
What a funny country. In this case all the sitting MNA's MPA's Senators accept for a few which also would be doubtful should be disqualified. What about those who robbed the mandate of the people. Do you think anyone in pakistan declares his/hers assets at the time of tax returns. Pakistan really needs to go under a major surgery.
@Azhar I guess then everyone will be expelled from PTI.
oh dear i thought the PTI was an honest party now all the y have to do is to look into the accounts of its leader hes not as clean as he shows.
@MOHAMMAD AKHTAR Then there will be no one left in PTI.
Build pti before building naya Pakistan
Problem is, whole country is in the grip of lying , cheating, falsehood. Who can you trust.? Wait to hear from Pervez Rashid PML (N) info minister right away blaming IK & PTI.
@Shakeel Rajput Do PTI form an intelligence bureau to authenticate the members? there is no way to do a soul check of everyone. Rai nawaz should be treated with iron hands.
@Rashid Ishaq no, he is going to raise hue and cry as he is very good at that.
Good decision. Now, ECP should investigate Nawaz Sharif's declared assets versus his real assets and having set a good precedent, disqualify him and impose a lifelong ban.
What is good for the goose, is good for the gander!
PTI should abide by this decision, if they want to clean house this is the start. However if this is the standard PML, PPP, JUI and others will have no candidates to filed.
@farhat it's not the party being cleansed it's the National Assembly.
What a joke? What is the Tribunal trying to prove? Punishing a person for non disclosure of his assets. Was it OK, if the poor MNA had filed his papers. It is just few properties and a Toyota Corolla. That is nothing. Dear TRIBUNAL members: start with the big Fishes and leave the small fries alone.
@Rashid Ishaq I don't agree with you Ik will say Dhandli Ho Gai he. Election tribunal was fraud. CJ passes thru Sahiwal that is why his honest member is disqualified and so on
@Azhar
If he has enough money he can provide donation to shoukat khanum and become clean
@Rashid Ishaq having money or being rich does not make you corrupt.
@Rashid Ishaq Let's hope so !!!
Clean chit for all is my reaction. I can say without any fear and awe that he alone cannot be the only defaulter to be thrown out from the assembly rather on the contra hardly anyone right from PM Mian Nawaz Sharif up to any MNA/MNA cannot be categorized as 'Miss Clean, Mrs Clean, Mr Clean' but yet they continue as parliamentarian and it is sheer bad luck that this poor has been punished. Will anyone else be disqualified alike? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com
i am not expecting from DAWN, to write false statement " It also found that on average, each person had cast six votes each." kindly make it amend. Report of NA125 is public document now, actually it 6 persons cast there vote twice.
I totally hate PTI now, i was such an active supporter of IK. Guys this man had, has and will have nothing to offer to us and our country. He doesnt keep his word, he doesnt give respect to anyone, HE IS NO POLITICIAN... I hate politics now
If only such a ruling was given out fairly to all corrupt individuals.
@razi Malik There is a place for all people doing wrong and all lotas. Come in PTI and you will be cleaned. Basically this party is Dhobi Ghat
shabaash I mean Khan
A good decision. Is the tribunal by the way so expedite to notify Nawaz and co who have billions of assets undisclosed.