ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued production orders for detained lawmakers so they can cast their vote in the upcoming Senate elections on March 3.
ECP has allowed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz and senior party leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif to cast their vote for the elections. The PML-N leaders are currently under detention on various corruption cases.
The election commission has also allowed Pakistan People Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah and independent MNA Ali Wazir. Khursheed Shah is currently under custody by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while Ali Wazir is facing a criminal case in Karachi.
The commission gave this direction in an order issued to the respective chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh and the NAB chairperson. The ECP said it is its duty to conduct the “elections honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law.”
“Exercising its powers under the relevant Articles of the Constitution, the Commission hereby directs all the chief secretaries and the chairman NAB to ensure the presence of any other Member National/Provincial Assembly in its custody, at their designated polling stations for casting their votes on the poll day,” said the ECP order.
