Former CJ to file reference against PM

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDP) has decided to approach Speaker National Assembly for sending reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel here on Saturday, former Chief Justice of Pakistan and chief of PJDP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while giving details of the reference against Nawaz Sharif disclosed that on August 08, the speaker National Assembly would be asked for making reference to the ECP on behalf of former parliamentarian Al-Haaj Sardar Umer Farooq Khan against Nawaz Sharif from NA-120 Lahore-III under Article 63(2) of the Constitution.

He said that essentially the petitioner’s case is not covered under Article 63(a)(b)(e)(d)(f) and (i) of the Constitution, as the questions are arising because of concealment of property outside Pakistan and evasion of taxes, money laundering, abuse of SRO culture, clearance of borrowed amount of Rs6.146 billion, benefits drawn unauthorisedly by misusing his position as chief minister, misstatement about assets of land in nomination papers in elections, non-disclosure of pendency of criminal references for misusing the official sources, favouritism and nepotism, massive rigging in the general elections of 1990, fabrication, breach of confidentiality of agreement, violation of Constitution, evasion of income tax, etc.”

“His case is compassed by Article 62(1)(f) of the Representation of People Act 1976, violation of Income Tax Act, Wealth Tax Act, Foreign Exchange Regulation, etc. Therefore it is imperative to send reference to the ECP inter alia on the questions which have been noted blow for probe and determination,” the former chief justice said.

It should be noted that former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his party are in favour of presidential system.