PTI files reference against PA deputy speaker

ISLAMABAD: The PTI leadership has submitted a reference against Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari to Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi under Article 63(2), seeking former's disqualification for chairing the assembly session convened by the provincial governor, as acting speaker to help the provincial government lay the budget before the House.

The reference argues that Mazari violated his oath by chairing Punjab Assembly session at Aiwan-e-Iqbal. It adds he had also presided over an assembly session from the gallery last month.

The reference argues Mazari violated several articles of the constitution, Supreme Court's order as well as party directions. The reference states that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should disqualify Dost Mazari for violating his oath.

The ECP spokesman told The News Thursday evening that the commission hasn’t received any reference against the deputy speaker. Mazari, meanwhile, has arrived in the federal capital. He visited the Parliament House Thursday and had meetings with Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and Deputy Speaker National Assembly Zahid Aram Khan Durrani separately. They commended the role Mazari has been playing to run the affairs of his house smoothly despite odds.