ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought a reply from the PML-N on a petition challenging appointment of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz as the party’s vice-president.

During Monday’s hearing, Maryam’s lawyer Barrister Zafarullah and PML-N lawyer Jahangir Jadoon sought copies of the petition filed by PTI.

Mr Jadoon said they could not submit a reply until they received copies of the petition and documentation submitted by the PTI.

A three-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza, directed provision of record to the parties. The hearing was adjourned till June 25.

Later talking to reporters, Maleeka Bukhari said Sunday’s meeting between Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was part 2 of ‘save father campaign’ and a move towards signing ‘charter of corruption’.

The petition against Maryam Nawaz was filed by PTI MNAs Maleeka Bukhari, Farrukh Habib and Javeria Zafar on May 9.

The petition questions appointment of Maryam Nawaz as PML-N vice-president. It says it was against the law because she was convicted of a crime.She had been sentenced to seven years in prison for abetting her father Nawaz Sharif after she was found “instrumental in concealment of properties of her father” by an accountability court in July 2018.

The application stated that Maryam’s appointment as the party’s vice-president was in violation of the Constitution becauseshe had been disqualified and could not hold any political or public office.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2019