Panama Papers References: ECP Issues Notices To PM, Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Augst,2016) : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued notices to the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar,Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and sought reply from them till September 6, on references, seeking their disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Retired Sardar Raza Muhammad Khan resumed hearing of the references filed by PPP, PTI, PAT and AML against the prime minister and others for allegedly concealing their foreign assets in nomination papers.

The lawyers of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Latif Khosa, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Khurram Nawaz, Anees Hashmi of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and Awami Muslim League concluded their arguments in favour of their filed references respectively. After hearing the arguments, Chief Election Commissioner issued notices to the respondents and adjourned the hearing till September 6. The political parties had filed their petitions separately following a deadlock in talks between opposition parties and government over the terms of reference (ToRs) for the proposed commission to investigate the Panama Papers.