Capt Safdar issued notice for ‘concealing’ wife’s asset details

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday sought a written reply from Prime Minister’s son-in-law and MNA Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar till August 9 in response to a reference filed against him for ‘concealing’ asset details of his wife in his nomination papers.

A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, conducted the proceedings of the reference filed by Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Nawabzada Salahuddin.

He was rival of Capt Safdar in 2013 general election. This was the first reference the ECP took up after four of its members were administered oath of office a day earlier.

During the course of hearing, the counsel for PTI contended before the bench that MNA Safdar had not mentioned in his nomination papers the ownership of foreign properties of his wife. He charged concealment of details ran contrary to the law and rules and hence he should be stripped of his membership of the National Assembly. 

He prayed to the ECP's bench to disqualify Safdar from the seat of National Assembly. On his part, Safdar’s lawyer PML-N’s Senator Nehal Hashmi argued that this petition could not be heard as all allegations levelled on his client were fake and baseless. He asked the bench to dismiss the plea on non-production of evidences.