Invoking Supreme Court’s jurisdiction, two leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Monday sought disqualification of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari over failure to disclose assets in the nomination papers accurately.
Member Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar filed the pleas making Asif Ali Zardari, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and National Assembly secretary as respondents.
Both the leaders submitted that Zardari didn’t provide details pertaining to ownership of an apartment in New York City, United States, in the nomination papers filed ahead of the last general elections. They claimed that Zardari also failed to disclose two bulletproof vehicles which according to them is violation of Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution and Section 231 of the Election Act, 2017.
“Both apartment and the armoured vehicles have not been disclosed in the Form B of the nomination papers filed by Respondent No 1 [Zardari] on July 6, 2018, as a candidate for NA-213,” the petitioners said. While giving grounds for the plea, they claimed that Zardari was involved in money laundering of billions of rupees through fictitious bank accounts.
Besides, the petitioners said, Zardari occupies more than one office as apart from co-chairing PPP, he is also president of Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentarians (PPPP) which is a violation of Article 63(a) of the constitution.
It is worth mentioning here that the PTI had decided to file a petition against Asif Ali Zardari for his disqualification from membership of parliament when a joint investigation team formed in pursuance of the apex court directives had submitted findings in fake accounts case. Zaman had earlier withdrew his application against Zardari from ECP on the grounds that he will file a petition before the Supreme Court with fresh evidence.
Later addressing media outside the Supreme Court, PTI Karachi Division President Khurrum Sher Zaman said Zardari is not a newcomer to electoral politics and that he should know the importance of making a full and honest disclosure of all his assets and liabilities as required by relevant laws and the constitution of Pakistan. He hoped that the Supreme Court will accept and hear the petition.
Published in Daily Times, January 22nd 2019.
