LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday heard a case to take action against all politicians who did not disclose Toshakhana gifts in the nomination papers.
Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh conducted the hearing on a petition filed by petitioner Advocate Nadeem Sarwar. The court issued a notice to the federal government and other parties and sought their response.
During the hearing, the petitioner argued that according to records, hundreds of parliamentarians received gifts from Toshakhana. He maintained that the Election Commission showed partiality and action was taken only against one person.
He said that similar action should be taken against the lawmakers who took gifts and do not disclose them. He urged the court to instruct the election commission to take action against the politicians who did not disclose the Toshakhana gifts.
The petitioner sought court’s directives to the ECP to open references against all members of national and provincial assemblies who failed to disclose details of Toshakhana gifts in their statements of assets and liabilities.
The petitioner, while demanding uniform action across the board, implored the court to issue directions to the ECP to register criminal complaints against all lawmakers who concealed their Toshakhana gifts.
The petitioner nominated the federal government through the Ministry of Law and the ECP through the chief election commissioner as respondents in the petition. He argued that the PTI chairman was sentenced to three years in prison.
The Election Commission of Pakistan is not fulfilling the requirements of justice as it has not taken action against the assembly members who did not show Toshakhana gifts.
The petitioner alleged that Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Yousaf Raza Gillani also did not reveal Toshakhana gifts, but the election commission is not deliberately taking action against them.
