ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has sent a legal notice to Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed for allegedly misusing his position and defaming the PTI leadership by using public money.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, PTI spokesman Naeemul Haque said his party had also decided to move the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking disqualification of MNA retired Capt Mohammad Safdar for hiding assets of his wife Maryam Nawaz.

The PTI said in the legal notice that Mr Imran Khan and other members were celebrating the 20th foundation day of their party on April 24, while Mr Rasheed was making efforts to damage the reputation of the PTI chief by misusing his office.

“The ministry of information was publishing advertisements which were not only false and malicious but also had been financed by the public money. These actions are tantamount to misusing of authority and misappropriation of public money,” the notice alleged and asked the information minister to disclose the source and details of funds used for financing the advertisements

The notice asked the minister to offer an unqualified apology through electronic and print media. “Other­wise legal proceedings will be initiated under criminal and civil laws. Moreover damages, along with the cost of proceedings, will be claimed.”

Mr Haque said PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen would also send a legal notice to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for defaming him.

He said the government should investigate people who had been levelling allegations against PTI leaders through the National Accoun­tability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency.

In reply to a question, he said opposition parties would meet on May 2 to discuss new terms of reference for the judicial commission proposed to be set up to investigate the Panama Papers leaks.

The PTI spokesman said an application seeking disqualification of MNA Safdar would be filed with the ECP because he did not disclose in his statement of assets that his wife, Maryam Nawaz, owned an offshore company.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016