If the upcoming general elections are not held on time, those responsible for it should be tried under the Article 6 (treason) of the Constitution, suggested former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday.
Abbasi said this while talking to journalists after appearing before an election tribunal at Rawalpindi bench of Lahore High Court (LHC), which is hearing an appeal filed against his candidature from NA-57, Rawalpindi.
Abbasi said that a returning officer cannot challenge a candidate's affidavit. "The returning officer has to take the affidavit on face value," the former prime minister said, adding that the nations, not courts, decide the fate of elections.
Responding to a question about fielding Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) candidates against former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Abbasi commented that the party has made the decision. "The party's decision is our decision," he added.
Abbasi is also contesting on the PML-N's ticket from NA-53, Islamabad, as well as from his home constituency NA-57, Murree. His nomination papers from Murree have also been challenged in the Rawalpindi appellate tribunal.
Petitioner Masood Ahmed Abbas had challenged Abbasi's candidature, accusing him of extorting money from the national exchequer.
The petitioner had alleged that the candidate, during his tenure as the prime minister, had obtained Rs 1 billion from the national kitty and given the amount to his son to perform Umrah.
The tribunal later reserved its verdict, which will be announced on June 27. The election tribunals have time until June 27 to decide on the appeals after which the revised list of the candidates will be shared on June 28.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 29 whereas the date for allocation of electoral symbols and publication of the final list of contesting candidates is June 30.