PTI files reference with ECP seeking disqualification of Asif Ali Zardari
The PPP co-chairman is accused of not mentioning his foreign assets in the nomination papers
December 20, 2018
KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday filed a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for hiding a property in the United States.
The petition submitted by PTI's Khurram Sher Zaman and Firdous Shamim Naqvi moved the ECP to take notice of the matter and disqualify Zardari as member of the National Assembly.
While receiving the petition, the provincial election commissioner maintained that only ECP Islamabad could take an action over it.
Speaking to media outside the Sindh office of the ECP, Zaman said one individual had met his fate while the other's turn is on December 24. He said taking action against big fishes over corruption was priority of the PTI government.
The PTI leader said they had submitted the petition with evidence as to how money was laundered out of Pakistan and to which places, demanding the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the US property of the former president.
Naqvi said Zardari could not stay as member of the National Assembly under 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The federal government had on Wednesday decided to file a disqualification reference against Zardari for concealing his assets.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said that the PTI has directed its Sindh lawmaker Khurram Sher Zaman to file a reference against Zardari for not mentioning his foreign assets in the nomination papers.
“Zardari owns an apartment in the United States. Under Article 62/63, he was bound to declare his assets which he didn’t. He is not eligible to remain a member of the parliament anymore,” Chaudhry had said.
He had further said that investigation against Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Pakistan Peoples Party began in the previous tenure; the incumbent government had only given a free hand to the investigators.
"They didn't let the institutions initiate transparent inquiries. We promised to our voters that we will bring corruption-free political structure," he had added.
