ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned till April 2 the hearing of petitions seeking the disqualification of defected Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmakers and Karachi deputy mayor.
A four-member bench of ECP presided over by Sindh ECP Member Abdul Ghaffar Soomro on Thursday took up for hearing the petitions seeking the disqualification of federal and provincial lawmakers and Karachi deputy mayor who had defected from MQM-P.
Counsels for defected parliamentarians, Karachi deputy mayor and Dr Farooq Sattar appeared before the comission.
Counsel for Karachi Deputy Mayor Arshid Vohra told the commission that the matter related to convenorship of MQM-P was sub judice and he would be able to advance arguments after the decision in the case.
The female member of the commission said that some members were yet to file their reply.
MPA Irum Azeem Farooqi of MQM-P appeared before the commission in person and was directed to file a written reply.
She told the commission that she had not joined any party and despite that, a notice of disqualification had been given to her.
ECP adjourned the hearing of the case till April 2.
Talking to media, Karachi Deputy MayorArshid Vohra said that the matter was pending due to the issue of MQM-P’s convenorship. Unfortunately MQM leaders had become involved in internal conflicts and no one cared for the people of Karachi.
He said that matter of chairmanship of MQM-P would be decided on March 26 and then the matter of defected members would be decided as well. He requested ECP to decide the case early so that deprivations of the people of Karachi could be allayed.
