A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday started hearing the PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi’s petition seeking the disqualification of Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen as members of the National Assembly.
The petition, filed by the PMN’s Hanif Abbasi, accuses the two PTI leaders of not declaring their assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and seeks to unseat them based on alleged violations of the lncome Tax Ordinance 1979 and Peoples Act 1974.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Abbasi’s counsel, Muhammad Akram Sheikh, began his arguments before Chief Justice Saqib Nasir and other judges. Shiekh’s request to include the ECP and the Ministry of Interior as a party to the case was denied. “If the need arises, we will call the Ministry of Interior and the National Accountability Bureau,” the chief justice said.
Proceeding with his arguments, Sheikh focused on giving details pertaining to foreign funds allegedly received by the PTI, which, he said, were in violation of the Political Parties Order.
Sheikh told the court that Khan had denied accepting foreign funding before the ECP and therefore should be disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.
Sheikh told the three-judge bench that Imran had formed an offshore company called Niazi Service Limited in 1982 but he did not disclose this in his nomination papers or tax documents. He added that Imran gave four versions regarding the purchase of the 30-kanal plot in Bani Gala where his house now stands, and each version is contradictory.
The CJP further rejected the PML-N leader’s plea to form a larger bench for the hearing of the case for the disqualification of Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen. “There is no need to form a larger bench in this case,” said Justice Nisar. The parties’ leaders have also restricted not to give any statement in the boundary limits of the apex court. The hearing was adjourned till Thursday.
