–Reference filed by Khurram Sher and Usman Dar points to PPP co-chairman’s dual chairmanship, non-disclosure of foreign assets
–Also highlights Zardari’s involvement in mega money laundering case
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday moved a reference in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking the disqualification of former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
The reference was filed by PTI’s Member of Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman and PM’s Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Usman Dar, who cited the former president, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and National Assembly (NA) secretary as respondents.
Dar hoped that the court would hear the petition soon and claimed that he was “confident of winning the case”.
Moreover, he referred to Zardari’s earlier comment that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government will be unable to complete its tenure in light of the recent decision of opposition parties to join hands, saying that PM Imran would not only complete his tenure but also remain in power for the next five years after winning next elections, however, it is Zardari who seems not to be able to complete his term.
The petitioners alleged that Zardari concealed details pertaining to ownership of an apartment in New York City, United States, in the nomination papers filed ahead of the general elections. He also failed to disclose two bulletproof vehicles, thus violating Article 62(f)(i) of the Constitution and Section 231 of the Election Act 2017, they maintained.
They alleged that both the apartment and the armoured vehicles were not disclosed in Form B of the nomination papers filed by Zardari on July 6 2018, as a candidate for NA-213.
“Zardari occupies more than one office apart from co-chairing PPP, he is also president of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) which was a violation of Article 63 (a) of the Constitution” they added.
The PTI leaders also argued that Zardari’s alleged involvement in the money laundering of billions of rupees through fictitious bank accounts is also a ground for his disqualification.
Asserting that he will not speak any further as the matter is now sub-judice, Zaman stated that “it is a very big case with conclusive evidence as Zardari holds undeclared property worth billions of rupees”.
On December 21, Zaman had moved a reference in the Sindh office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking the disqualification of former president Zardari for not declaring an apartment that he owns in the United States in his nomination papers for 2018 general elections.
However, later he withdrew the reference on the grounds that he wanted to “move the SC against the PPP co-chairman,” adding that “we have come across evidence that we will only present before a top forum”.
