PTI seeks Shahbaz Sharif's disqualification over 'violation of oath'

Published July 17, 2017
The petition alleges that Shahbaz Sharif remained associated with private business despite holding public office.— File
The petition alleges that Shahbaz Sharif remained associated with private business despite holding public office.— File

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking disqualification of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over allegations of a conflict of interest.

The petition filed by Babar Awan on behalf of PTI Chairman Imran Khan named Shahbaz Sharif and the Election Commission of Pakistan as respondents.

The petition alleged that Sharif remained involved in his private business despite holding a public office and thus "violated his oath" that he took when he assumed the office of Punjab chief minister.

"Mr Shahbaz Sharif...preferred his personal interest over national interest by abuse of his influence and through his official conduct as well as by misuse of his official decisions," the petition said.

The application added that the joint investigation team probing the Sharif family's businesses abroad said in its report that the Sharif's assets do not match their declared income.

The application claimed that Shahbaz Sharif had given Nawaz Sharif gifts worth Rs6 billion, however no money trail of the hefty sum was provided.

It also accused the Punjab chief minister of misusing his authority to protect his sugar mills, alleging the mill was established "without the approval [of] the Environment Impact Assessment" and is therefore illegal.

Lahore High Court's Justice Shahid Karim will begin hearing the case tomorrow.

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