The Election Commission of Pakistan has summoned former Prime Ministers Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif for hearings on electoral conduct issues scheduled for November 5.
Cases regarding the electoral conduct have been forwarded against former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan and the Election Commission of Pakistan has issued formal summonses, as per 24NewsHD TV. The case list issued by ECP showed the hearings of both political figures to be conducted on November 5.
Ex-PMs to appear before ECP hearings
It was Nawaz Sharif, President of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PML-N, who filed a reference with the Speaker National Assembly. He had filed the reference ten days ago seeking disqualification of MNA Adil Bazai.
He also alleged that Bazai had violated the party’s stance by abstaining from voting on the 26th Constitutional Bill, which was important for the PML-N.
It quotes the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, as sending the reference with a letter to the ECP, requesting Bazai’s disqualification and declaring his seat vacant under Article 63-A. Article 63-A squarely falls under the defection clause, which calls for adherence to party lines in any significant vote in a parliament. Bazai did not show up for the voting session in the amendment on October 21, even though he is allied with PML-N before joining PTI.
On the request of Sadiq, the ECP summoned Nawaz Sharif to appear before it on November 5 and explain the reference. Meanwhile, PTI founder Imran Khan has been summoned by ECP on contempt charges, wherein the case accuses him of showing disdain towards the authority of ECP. These proceedings underline the quite active role of the ECP in regulating elections and disciplining the parties.
