PTI moves ECP to ban PML-N, political activities of Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed on Wednesday a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) praying that it restrain the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from taking part in political activities or leading processions. 

The petition prays that the former prime minister be declared ineligible for membership of any political party on the basis of his disqualification by the Supreme Court, and the party carrying his name should be enlisted as a banned organisation.

The PTI also insisted that using Nawaz’s name for the party must be declared as contrary to law and Constitution.

The petition, drafted by PTI’s Babar Awan, was submitted by party candidate for upcoming bye-election in NA-120, Lahore, Yasmin Rashid, under Section 5 of the Political Parties Order 2002.

The development took place, as Nawaz prepared to depart for Lahore from Islamabad, leading a rally via the Grand Trunk (GT) Road. The petition further states that the party carrying Nawaz's name should be banned, asking that nominations made by Nawaz for the post of the prime minister and for the cabinet should also be declared illegal.

`"Any person using the name of 'Muslim League Nawaz' should be declared to be in conflict with the Constitution and the law," it said. PTI Chairman Imran Khan has repeatedly accused Nawaz of trying to put NAB under pressure for another NRO to escape corruption cases and references. 

Talking to media persons, Babar Awan came hard on the ruling PML-N for organising the GT Road rally, lamenting that access to schools, colleges and hospitals had been blocked due to arrangements for the rally.

He charged that entire Punjab had been locked down today and wondered where was the law over this lock-down? Babar Awan said he would raise questions over the tax-payers’ money being spent on the rally.