The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday adjourned hearings on two petitions seeking disqualification of PTI chairman Imran Khan and his close aide Jehangir Tareen till June 5.

A five-member ECP bench took up two separate petitions filed by PML-N leaders Talal Chaudhry and Muhammad Khan Daha against Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen respectively.

Chaudhry has sought disqualification of the PTI chairman on the grounds that he allegedly submitted a false financial statement regarding purchase of his Bani Gala residence with his electoral papers.

Whereas Daha has alleged that Tareen should be disqualified on grounds of allegations regarding a loan write-off.

The petition alleged that during Pervez Musharaf’s regime, being a federal minister Tareen had received Rs101 million as loan from Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in the name of Tandlianwala Sugar Mills, which was later written off in 2005.

Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza maintained that the commission had previously adjourned the petitions of similar nature because decisions regarding them were pending before the Supreme Court.

Raza asked PML-N's counsel Akram Sheikh whether these two petitions should also be adjourned indefinitely.

Sheikh opposed adjournment of these petitions for an indefinite time. "I would request the commission to adjourn these petitions for a shorter period of time," he maintained.

Naeem Bukhari, who was representing the PTI chief, did not object and the commission adjourned both the petitions against Khan and Tareen till June 5.

PML-N unhappy with adjournment

PML-N lawmaker Daniyal Aziz alleged discrimination behind the ECP decision.

"The commission had rejected references forwarded by National Assembly speaker against Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen by terming it a pre-election matter," he said while talking to reporters outside ECP building.

However, he said, "petitions of similar nature have been pending against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The petitioners have raised pre-election issues against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well," he added.

Aziz maintained that the PML-N will soon submit an application to the ECP to stop discrimination against the premier.