LAHORE, Aug 11: Former Punjab chief minister Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo claimed on Sunday that there was no disqualification imposed on him for contesting next general elections.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Wattoo said he did not accept the 10-year disqualification for contesting elections imposed on him by an accountability court in June last in three Baitul Maal references.

“The court simply dismissed my application for exemption from section 15 (1) of the NAB Ordinance imposing 10-year disqualification from contesting elections and did not issue a formal order while concluding the case,” Mr Wattoo claimed.

According to the former Punjab chief minister, the cases had been filed against him under the Ehtesab Act 1997 which did not prescribe any disqualification for an accused striking a plea bargain deal.

He alleged the three references were outcome of a grudge which Mian Nawaz Sharif had against him. “I did not move an application for plea bargain in these three references because I did not misuse Baitul Maal funds,” he claimed.

He said the other five accused had deposited Rs10.07 million with the NAB and had moved an application for plea bargain.

Replying to a query, former Punjab chief minister acknowledged that he should have moved an application for his pre-mature acquittal before the accountability court instead of pleading for his exemption from Section 15.