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LAHORE: A reference seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification has been sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Sadiq said: "I decided to send the reference to ECP to strengthen the parliament...the decision was taken after I went through the documents."
On Aug 15, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had filed a reference against the premier calling for his disqualification as a Member of the National Assembly.
The PTI’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chief Whip Dr Shireen Mazari and senior leader and MNA Dr Arif Alvi handed over the reference to Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in his office.
The reference was part of PTI's political efforts in the background of the Panama Papers leaks involving the prime minister, the party said in a statement.
Citing Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, the PTI had said Nawaz fell under the criterion to be disqualified as a Member of the National Assembly.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had filed a reference with the speaker against PTI chairman Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen which is also with the ECP at present.
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Comments (53) Closed
Oct 01, 2016 04:30pm
Completely agree with the Speaker. The parliament should be stronger, independent and should demand checks and balances from all federal officials,including the PM.
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Oct 01, 2016 04:30pm
better if you would have sent it earlier..
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Oct 01, 2016 04:30pm
Good democratic process and decision. Speaker should demand impartial inquiry into anyone's suitability to be member of Parliament or public representative. Anyone deemed unfit or unqualified should be sacked from office.
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Oct 01, 2016 04:32pm
Good move lets wish sanity prevails on political outlook of country and faith is restored on institutes of country. Lets wish PTI comes back from road shows and try to work for strengthening of democracy
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Oct 01, 2016 04:34pm
After thoroughly interrogation, Speaker or Chief Justice should give the orders for disqualification or otherwise decide if any.
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Oct 01, 2016 04:40pm
how was the money earned that was donated to imran khan . check all that was donated to him during the years
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Oct 01, 2016 04:43pm
why so late ??
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Oct 01, 2016 04:47pm
Question is, why did it take a protest to forward the disqualification reference?
Protests really work in the context of Pakistan's politics.
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Oct 01, 2016 04:49pm
Too little Too late
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Oct 01, 2016 04:51pm
Good u-turn at the end...
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Oct 01, 2016 04:56pm
just to save pm corruption they are doing these things.
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Oct 01, 2016 04:57pm
Mr Speaker you have an option to act either way,but unfortunately you have sent reference belatedly,which is an act of disproportion.The disclosures about Panama Leaks happened abroad,and we saw actions for probe in atleast 3 countries,Iceland,UK,and recently Denmark. the family of PM NS is involved in Panama,and this needs to be probed with first priority in the great interest of democracy,parliament ,there is absolutely no danger to parliament, only the leader of house,could be suspend or untill probe concludes.
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Oct 01, 2016 04:57pm
Thank you, Mr. Speaker!
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Oct 01, 2016 04:59pm
This has to be sorted at first precedence else it will create imbalance in government !
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Oct 01, 2016 04:59pm
@pakcricket yes I know it was and it is being utilised on serving people of Pakistan in the form of Shaukat Khanam Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi sooner.
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Oct 01, 2016 05:13pm
Nothing will happen.
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Oct 01, 2016 05:19pm
Let's see what type of is manipulated at ECP.
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Oct 01, 2016 05:22pm
@Nomi Goraya Better late than never...!
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Oct 01, 2016 05:28pm
At last! It will restore some respect to you, Mr. Speaker!
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Oct 01, 2016 05:38pm
@Nomi Goraya Similarly joint TOR should also be agreed upon paving the way for strengthening institutions.
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Oct 01, 2016 05:55pm
ECP will reject it.
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Oct 01, 2016 05:57pm
ECP under deal with PM so reference sent by speaker now
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Oct 01, 2016 06:04pm
Now thats IK power. After IK's good show , Keep it up IK.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:11pm
NS is already under pressure over Panama Leaks. With the current tensions with India, postponement of SAARC, problems with Afghanistan and Talibans, the US and economic woes, could mean his end of his rule could be inching closer.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:18pm
At last........!!!!!!!!!!!
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Oct 01, 2016 06:21pm
Why didn't you do it before?? U came under pressure and u call it strengthening the parliament?
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Oct 01, 2016 06:31pm
Good political move by PML (N), Speaker intentionally kept the reference as part of the plan and tried every trick to test PTI internal conflicts and defame dharna politics. Realizing show of strength by PTI yesterday, PML (N) just want to diffuse / fail IK next move on pretext of " Reference already sent to ECP so why he wants politics of agitation, he should respect the institutions".
Every Pakistani knows the current credibility of these institutions!!!!!!!
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Oct 01, 2016 06:33pm
Another tactic. IK threaten to lock Islamabad and speaker wakes up suddenly.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:39pm
This action of Ayaz Sadiq has not helped his partiality displayed earlier.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:47pm
Too late!
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Oct 01, 2016 06:48pm
The trickle down effects started. If the speaker sent it along with other references, it would be dignified. Anyway it's never late.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:52pm
The decision is taken by Honorable Speaker after assurance that nothing will be done to PM.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:53pm
@ZAK what service. Its his business just like others have businesses
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Oct 01, 2016 06:57pm
So that means... PMLN felt pressure of PTI riawand jalsa
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Oct 01, 2016 06:56pm
So that means... PMLN felt pressure of PTI riawand jalsa
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Oct 01, 2016 06:59pm
@Nomi Goraya , to make them work every time you have to arrange a road show, what would you say to that.
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Oct 01, 2016 07:03pm
Still there will be zero action. It is just a filler to show the masses, but I would really want to believe that the people do not get carried away by this, as if something is about to happen.
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Oct 01, 2016 07:02pm
Good job. He is really playing real opposition democracy. Goverment is feeling heat. They think it will be done like they have done before, Just delay and people forget. Hope institution take this case seriously and not sold in the hand of gov
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Oct 01, 2016 07:05pm
Speaker should resign too at the same time since he didn't do his job properly in the first place. He cannot afford to be partial and favouring PML-N.
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Oct 01, 2016 07:22pm
@Dr.Sadaf you are typical of an uneducated citizen full of gloom and negatives. I don't really blame you but then being a Dr one expects a positive approach. You are totally wrong in your assessment here.
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Oct 01, 2016 07:50pm
Time passing formula.
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Oct 01, 2016 07:52pm
I'm very surprised at the people here commenting about how this is a good action and will make the system stronger. It is such an obvious attempt at trickery and deception for the sake of show.
If the speaker wanted to strengthen the parliament then why did he wait 1.5 months to perform this action? Could it be that the government just had to do *something* to look positive in response to PTI's success in gathering a massive amount of people and what looks o be heading towards a wide-scale civil disobedience movement? Was this an act of desperation perhaps?
If 'educated', 'informed' individuals like the ones who are probably commenting positively on this article are duped so easily, no wonder this corrupt system has managed to survive so easily for so long!
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Oct 01, 2016 08:03pm
@Pathetic - On the other hand I think Dr.Sadaf is totally right in his assessment here. So, there!
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Oct 01, 2016 08:21pm
@badsha this is done to counter Khan's threat of Islamabad lock down. He rightly lambasted institutions for not delivering. Now they will say do not protest , as the Pm corruption case is sub-juidce and in election commission.
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Oct 01, 2016 08:27pm
After Jalsa? This is how Pakistan works..and now ECP will sit on it then it will require another jalsa..how long will our country run like this?
It is the same story wth common man, get anything done at government ofice, visit after visit after visit...
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Oct 01, 2016 08:29pm
Why he first gave a biased decision earlier clearing his leader (NS) and referring cases of members form other parties to EC. If he is impartial and wants to strengthen the institution he should not cleared NS earlier. It is just a ploy to counter Imran's threat of Islamabad lock down. Imran rightly criticized institution for non deliverance and partiality.
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Oct 01, 2016 08:31pm
@Bilal Javed You are right
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Oct 01, 2016 08:31pm
@ENQUIRE 100 correct
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Oct 01, 2016 08:33pm
Maybe the law for once will prevail and set an example that diversions are even more costly then the existant truth . The society has to one day do this, it may be now symbolic but that's what law is symbolic to begin with and real at it end so this is a move for truth and a very bold move indeed though I'm ran Knah is is totally confusing but taking the recourse of assembly is better the disturbing people's daily life with road blocks . When you have the highest offers to go to then make use of it , let ordinary people live.
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Oct 01, 2016 08:32pm
@Shakeel Ahmed u r right
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Oct 01, 2016 09:02pm
Just for face saving
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Oct 01, 2016 09:04pm
wonder what arrangements have been made at the ECP now?
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Oct 01, 2016 09:20pm
@Pathetic You could not be more pathetic! Instead of hurling insults at Dr. Sadaf, do a calm assessment of the situation, and his analysis, followed by some introspection. Perhaps it is you who needs the education.
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