ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Friday directed the dissident lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit their replies and prepare for argument till May 10, in a reference filed against them under article 63A of the constitution.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja stressed that the arguments of all parties should be completed at the upcoming hearing.
A three-member bench headed by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the reference of former National Assembly Speaker seeking disqualification of PTI’s disgruntled MPs for defection. It is pertinent to mention here that the ECP under Article 63-A of the Constitution which is related to the disqualification of MPs on the grounds of ''defection'' the commission is bound to decide the case within 30 days.
During the hearing, mostly dissident parliamentarians of PTI had submitted their written replies through their lawyers including Farrukh Altaf, Asim Nazir, Afzal Khan Dhandla, Nawab Sher Wasir, Raja Riaz, Noor Alam Khan, Ahmad Hussain Dheer, Rana Qasim Noon, Ghaffar Wattoo, Makhdoom Samiul Hassan Gilani, Mubeen Ahmed, Basit Sultan, Amir Gopang, Ajmal Farooq Khosa, Riaz Mazari, Jawariya Zafar, Wajiha Qamar, Nuzhat Pathan and Ramesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, representing PTI, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry said that he could not yet answer all written replies submitted by dissident members to ECP and also sought next date for appropriate preparation and counter-arguments in the case.
To this, Balochistan member of the ECP Shah Muhammad Jatoi said that the Commission is bound to decide the case till May 14.
It is to be noted here that the ECP had summoned PTI dissident lawmakers last week in a reference against them moved by PTI under Article 63 A of the constitution.
