Speaker’s decision on reference against ministers, MNAs today

ISLAMABAD: A group of lawyers from Lahore have filed a disqualification reference against three ministers and two MNAs. 

Those proceeded against include two federal ministers Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Khawaja Saad Rafiq; one Minister of State Ms. Marriyum Aurangzaib; and two members of the National Assembly Talal Chadhary and Danial Aziz. They have been charged with castigation the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) appointed by the Supreme Court in the Panama Leaks case. 

Secretariat of the Speaker National Assembly has processed the reference after its receipt and it would be adjudicated today (Monday) by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who has come back from his European visit a day earlier after cutting short his stay abroad.

The references were filed last week and their fate is supposed to be determined by the Speaker within 30 days of their receipt otherwise they will have to be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for hearing. Constitutional experts are of the view that the Speaker wouldn’t consign the reference to the ECP since the branch concerned has reportedly recommended against acceptance of the plea. 

Sources said that the petitioners have contended that the five members of parliament in question have been disrespectful to the apex court, offering negative remarks about the JIT that was appointed by the Supreme Court. It is unlikely that the petitioners would be formally heard by the Speaker before the disposal of the matter since the branch of the secretariat has thoroughly examined the references. The reference against Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar has been submitted to Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani who will examine it before taking any decision, the sources added.