ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to pass orders for the immediate release of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.
Haq, in a letter written to the commission, sought Shehbaz’s release under Article 218(3) of the constitution, adding that the arrest would influence the by-elections.
“ECP should take notice of Shehbaz’s arrest and direct National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to release him. It is an attempt to influence results of upcoming by-polls,” read the letter.
“ECP should ensure the presence of polling agents inside polling stations. Long queues of voters should be prevented outside polling stations. Moreover, the voting process and counting should take place in the presence of polling agents.
“Technical issues pertaining to the Result Transmission System should be sorted out, and returning officers should hand over signed Form-47 to the polling agents,” it added.
PRODUCTION ORDERS ISSUED:
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Wednesday had issued production orders for opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif.
The PML-N president in the wake of orders will be able to attend the extraordinary session of the National Assembly on October 17.
ARREST:
Shehbaz was arrested in a graft case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 5. He has been charged with awarding illegal contracts to his ‘favourite’ firm in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme.
He was apprehended during his appearance before the NAB in Saaf Pani Company scam.
The PML-N president was handed over to NAB on a 10-day physical remand to probe the Ashiana Housing scandal.