ISLAMABAD: The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) have made it clear that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), though being a constitutional body, has no power to disqualify anyone.
PTI leader Ali Zafar said that the it was alleged that the money, earned by Imran Khan by way of selling out gifts, was not declared in the assets, and thus Imran Khan was no longer Sadiq and Amin and should be disqualified for life. There is also another allegation, that even the money wasn’t paid in return of retaining the gifts, Ali Zafar said.
He said there was a provision in the election law according to which every parliamentarian was bound to declare its assets. He said in the challan submitted by us on behalf of Imran Khan, “we proved that money was paid in return for retaining gifts as per law, and the same proofs were presented to the ECP.”
Ali Zafar said that when the matter of Toshakhana was sent to the Speaker, he forwarded it to the ECP without evening calling Imran Khan for explanation.
Ali Zafar said all Toshakhana related allegations had been proved wrong by submitting proofs in income tax returns and challan forms. He said the constitution says that if a court decides that a parliamentarian is not honest and trustworthy, he can be disqualified, adding that no other body could disqualify anyone. He said the Election Commission did not have the authority to declare anyone as Sadiq and Amin, and disqualify anyone on the same ground.
Speaking on this occasion, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Election Commission of Pakistan was a constitutional body and PTI presented its legal position in Toshakhana reference before the ECP as well as the nation. He said the constitution and the nation of Pakistan expect something from the ECP, as its primary job was to hold free, fair and transparent elections. He said this institution [of ECP] should uphold its reputation and responsibility.
Shah Mehmood said that the entire nation witnessed Tehreek-e-Insaaf as the only party that presented a [monetary and financial] record, and that in his opinion, no other party in the country had submitted so much details.
