NA speaker forwards PTI's reference seeking PM's disqualification to ECP

E-Paper | July 29, 2026

LAHORE: A reference seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification has been sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Sadiq said: "I decided to send the reference to ECP to strengthen the parliament...the decision was taken after I went through the documents."

On Aug 15, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had filed a reference against the premier calling for his disqualification as a Member of the National Assembly.

The PTI’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chief Whip Dr Shireen Mazari and senior leader and MNA Dr Arif Alvi handed over the reference to Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in his office.

The reference was part of PTI's political efforts in the background of the Panama Papers leaks involving the prime minister, the party said in a statement.

Citing Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, the PTI had said Nawaz fell under the criterion to be disqualified as a Member of the National Assembly.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had filed a reference with the speaker against PTI chairman Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen which is also with the ECP at present.

‘Panama Papers’ reveal Sharif family’s ‘offshore holdings’

Govt files reference for Imran’s disqualification as MNA

PML-N files disqualification reference against PTI’s Jahangir Tareen

Skeptic

Oct 01, 2016 04:30pm

Completely agree with the Speaker. The parliament should be stronger, independent and should demand checks and balances from all federal officials,including the PM.

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badsha

Oct 01, 2016 04:30pm

better if you would have sent it earlier..

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Mahmood

Oct 01, 2016 04:30pm

Good democratic process and decision. Speaker should demand impartial inquiry into anyone's suitability to be member of Parliament or public representative. Anyone deemed unfit or unqualified should be sacked from office.

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Nomi Goraya

Oct 01, 2016 04:32pm

Good move lets wish sanity prevails on political outlook of country and faith is restored on institutes of country. Lets wish PTI comes back from road shows and try to work for strengthening of democracy

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irfan younas

Oct 01, 2016 04:34pm

After thoroughly interrogation, Speaker or Chief Justice should give the orders for disqualification or otherwise decide if any.

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pakcricket

Oct 01, 2016 04:40pm

how was the money earned that was donated to imran khan . check all that was donated to him during the years

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Abdul Rehman

Oct 01, 2016 04:43pm

why so late ??

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Shehzad

Oct 01, 2016 04:47pm

Question is, why did it take a protest to forward the disqualification reference? Protests really work in the context of Pakistan's politics.

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Zaq

Oct 01, 2016 04:49pm

Too little Too late

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Harmony-1©

Oct 01, 2016 04:51pm

Good u-turn at the end...

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iftokhar butta

Oct 01, 2016 04:56pm

just to save pm corruption they are doing these things.

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All-is-well

Oct 01, 2016 04:57pm

Mr Speaker you have an option to act either way,but unfortunately you have sent reference belatedly,which is an act of disproportion.The disclosures about Panama Leaks happened abroad,and we saw actions for probe in atleast 3 countries,Iceland,UK,and recently Denmark. the family of PM NS is involved in Panama,and this needs to be probed with first priority in the great interest of democracy,parliament ,there is absolutely no danger to parliament, only the leader of house,could be suspend or untill probe concludes.

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Asif A. Shah

Oct 01, 2016 04:57pm

Thank you, Mr. Speaker!

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Oct 01, 2016 04:59pm

This has to be sorted at first precedence else it will create imbalance in government !

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ZAK

Oct 01, 2016 04:59pm

@pakcricket yes I know it was and it is being utilised on serving people of Pakistan in the form of Shaukat Khanam Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi sooner.

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Zulfiqar Baig

Oct 01, 2016 05:13pm

Nothing will happen.

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Rafique Ahmed Khoso

Oct 01, 2016 05:19pm

Let's see what type of is manipulated at ECP.

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Nabeel

Oct 01, 2016 05:22pm

@Nomi Goraya Better late than never...!

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Salman

Oct 01, 2016 05:28pm

At last! It will restore some respect to you, Mr. Speaker!

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Riaz

Oct 01, 2016 05:38pm

@Nomi Goraya Similarly joint TOR should also be agreed upon paving the way for strengthening institutions.

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srehman

Oct 01, 2016 05:55pm

ECP will reject it.

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Gerry D'Cunha

Oct 01, 2016 05:57pm

ECP under deal with PM so reference sent by speaker now

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Zarak

Oct 01, 2016 06:04pm

Now thats IK power. After IK's good show , Keep it up IK.

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M. Malik

Oct 01, 2016 06:11pm

NS is already under pressure over Panama Leaks. With the current tensions with India, postponement of SAARC, problems with Afghanistan and Talibans, the US and economic woes, could mean his end of his rule could be inching closer.

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Rajab Ali

Oct 01, 2016 06:18pm

At last........!!!!!!!!!!!

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imran khan

Oct 01, 2016 06:21pm

Why didn't you do it before?? U came under pressure and u call it strengthening the parliament?

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ENQUIRE

Oct 01, 2016 06:31pm

Good political move by PML (N), Speaker intentionally kept the reference as part of the plan and tried every trick to test PTI internal conflicts and defame dharna politics. Realizing show of strength by PTI yesterday, PML (N) just want to diffuse / fail IK next move on pretext of " Reference already sent to ECP so why he wants politics of agitation, he should respect the institutions". Every Pakistani knows the current credibility of these institutions!!!!!!!

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Arslan

Oct 01, 2016 06:33pm

Another tactic. IK threaten to lock Islamabad and speaker wakes up suddenly.

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Pathetic

Oct 01, 2016 06:39pm

This action of Ayaz Sadiq has not helped his partiality displayed earlier.

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Shahzad Ikhlaq

Oct 01, 2016 06:47pm

Too late!

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Tahir

Oct 01, 2016 06:48pm

The trickle down effects started. If the speaker sent it along with other references, it would be dignified. Anyway it's never late.

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Abdul Hameed

Oct 01, 2016 06:52pm

The decision is taken by Honorable Speaker after assurance that nothing will be done to PM.

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MIAN SHOAIB

Oct 01, 2016 06:53pm

@ZAK what service. Its his business just like others have businesses

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Oct 01, 2016 06:57pm

So that means... PMLN felt pressure of PTI riawand jalsa

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Oct 01, 2016 06:56pm

So that means... PMLN felt pressure of PTI riawand jalsa

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Dr.Sadaf

Oct 01, 2016 06:59pm

@Nomi Goraya , to make them work every time you have to arrange a road show, what would you say to that.

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Dr.Sadaf

Oct 01, 2016 07:03pm

Still there will be zero action. It is just a filler to show the masses, but I would really want to believe that the people do not get carried away by this, as if something is about to happen.

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zeeshan

Oct 01, 2016 07:02pm

Good job. He is really playing real opposition democracy. Goverment is feeling heat. They think it will be done like they have done before, Just delay and people forget. Hope institution take this case seriously and not sold in the hand of gov

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Shakeel Ahmed

Oct 01, 2016 07:05pm

Speaker should resign too at the same time since he didn't do his job properly in the first place. He cannot afford to be partial and favouring PML-N.

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Pathetic

Oct 01, 2016 07:22pm

@Dr.Sadaf you are typical of an uneducated citizen full of gloom and negatives. I don't really blame you but then being a Dr one expects a positive approach. You are totally wrong in your assessment here.

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Sultan Durrani

Oct 01, 2016 07:50pm

Time passing formula.

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Bilal Javed

Oct 01, 2016 07:52pm

I'm very surprised at the people here commenting about how this is a good action and will make the system stronger. It is such an obvious attempt at trickery and deception for the sake of show. If the speaker wanted to strengthen the parliament then why did he wait 1.5 months to perform this action? Could it be that the government just had to do *something* to look positive in response to PTI's success in gathering a massive amount of people and what looks o be heading towards a wide-scale civil disobedience movement? Was this an act of desperation perhaps? If 'educated', 'informed' individuals like the ones who are probably commenting positively on this article are duped so easily, no wonder this corrupt system has managed to survive so easily for so long!

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Harmony-1©

Oct 01, 2016 08:03pm

@Pathetic - On the other hand I think Dr.Sadaf is totally right in his assessment here. So, there!

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Iftikhar

Oct 01, 2016 08:21pm

@badsha this is done to counter Khan's threat of Islamabad lock down. He rightly lambasted institutions for not delivering. Now they will say do not protest , as the Pm corruption case is sub-juidce and in election commission.

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Humanity

Oct 01, 2016 08:27pm

After Jalsa? This is how Pakistan works..and now ECP will sit on it then it will require another jalsa..how long will our country run like this? It is the same story wth common man, get anything done at government ofice, visit after visit after visit...

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Iftikhar

Oct 01, 2016 08:29pm

Why he first gave a biased decision earlier clearing his leader (NS) and referring cases of members form other parties to EC. If he is impartial and wants to strengthen the institution he should not cleared NS earlier. It is just a ploy to counter Imran's threat of Islamabad lock down. Imran rightly criticized institution for non deliverance and partiality.

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Iftikhar

Oct 01, 2016 08:31pm

@Bilal Javed You are right

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Iftikhar

Oct 01, 2016 08:31pm

@ENQUIRE 100 correct

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Battleaxe

Oct 01, 2016 08:33pm

Maybe the law for once will prevail and set an example that diversions are even more costly then the existant truth . The society has to one day do this, it may be now symbolic but that's what law is symbolic to begin with and real at it end so this is a move for truth and a very bold move indeed though I'm ran Knah is is totally confusing but taking the recourse of assembly is better the disturbing people's daily life with road blocks . When you have the highest offers to go to then make use of it , let ordinary people live.

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Iftikhar

Oct 01, 2016 08:32pm

@Shakeel Ahmed u r right

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Muhammad Naveed

Oct 01, 2016 09:02pm

Just for face saving

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Civilian

Oct 01, 2016 09:04pm

wonder what arrangements have been made at the ECP now?

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Truth

Oct 01, 2016 09:20pm

@Pathetic You could not be more pathetic! Instead of hurling insults at Dr. Sadaf, do a calm assessment of the situation, and his analysis, followed by some introspection. Perhaps it is you who needs the education.

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