Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday announced that it would hold the hearing on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification case on August 03. The commission issued notices to petitioners in relation to maintainability of petitions seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allegedly hiding assets in his declaration that he submitted during the general elections 2013.
The Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Pakistan Awami Tehreek filed references against the Prime Minister and his family. The commission clubbed all four references filed against the Prime Minister and announced that the hearing of case would be held on August 3. The political parties filed their petitions individually 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.
The Pakistan People's Party filed a 1000-page reference to the ECP, calling for the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The reference was filed by Sardar Latif Khosa, Secretary General of PPP, alleging that the premier concealed assets of his wife and children, lied about his income in his tax returns and sent money abroad through illegal channels.
He also filed references against Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, lawmakers Captain Muhammad Safdar (Retd), Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Hamza Shahbaz. The reference argues that "keeping in view the above facts, Nawaz Sharif does not qualify for prime minister's office under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution; therefore, he may be disqualified." The PTI filed a 72-page reference in the ECP calling for the disqualification of the Prime Minister for allegedly hiding his assets.