ISLAMABAD - In what seems to be a tit-for-tat response to the onslaught of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) against his father and former chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, Dr Arsalan Iftikhar on Monday knocked the doors of election authorities seeking reference to disqualify Imran Khan as member of National Assembly.
Dr Arsalan on Monday filed a petition with Election Commission of Pakistan to provide him attested copies of nomination documents of Imran Khan. He lashed out at the PTI chief, saying he should be disqualified as member of the Parliament for not having “good morals” and for hiding his details from election authorities.
The son of former CJP claims that Imran has not made any mention of his third child in his nomination papers, where one has to declare details of all dependents. “In his nomination paper, he (Imran) puts the names of two of his children - Salman and Qasim. There is also another child - Tyrian Jade Khan - perhaps he has not disclosed her name,” Dr Arslan alleged, while speaking to reporters.
He has sought copies of nomination papers of Imran filed with the ECP before contesting the 2002 and 2013 general elections. “I fully believe that Imran Khan violated article 62 D, P, F read with 63 (2) of the Constitution - by not proving himself as a truthful person having a good moral character therefore he has rendered himself to be disqualified to be member of parliament,” Dr Arsalan said, while speaking to the media outside the Election Commission Office on Monday.
According to Deputy Commissioner ECP Khurshid Alam, Arsalan has asked for attested copies of nomination papers only which will be submitted as evidence in a reference to Speaker National Assembly.
Arsalan complained that Imran blamed him for certain things for which he did not have evidence when he was given the position of vice chairman in the Balochistan Investment Board. “I believe in documents and in solid proof,” Dr Arsalan said, adding, “I do not go by hearsay, I will not accuse a person of being corrupt based mere on perceptions.
Arsalan is likely to take up the issue of Imran’s moral turpitude, presenting a foreign court order regarding his alleged child out of wedlock. Following his talk with the media, he distributed copies of the reports he had attained.
Imran, once a staunch supporter of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, now accuses him of being involved in rigging during last year’s general elections, triggering the former top judge to serve a contempt notice on PTI chief when serving as chief justice.
Dr Arsalan said he was using his right to information according to Article 19(A) of the constitution to demand details of Imran Khan’s nomination papers from the secretary election commission.