The lawyer for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the case of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s disqualification for not showing his alleged daughter Tyrian White in his nomination papers that a candidate had to disclose details of his or her children in his or her nomination papers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

“And what does the Election Act say in case incorrect details have been given?” IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Amir Farooq asked the ECP’s lawyer.

The lawyer informed that in case a candidate provided false information, this would fall in the category of ‘corrupt practice’.

A larger bench of the IHC, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Amir Farooq, heard the petition.

The chief justice said that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had said in its verdict that these were the courts, and not the ECP, which had the power to declare somebody eligible or ineligible.

Petitioner Salman Aslam Butt’s lawyer Hamid Ali Shah said that his client had suffered a heart attack.   

Speaking on the occasion, Imran’s counsel Salman Akram Raja said he wanted to make all the documents part of the record.

He told the court that the NADRA had refused to conduct the biometric. “Go to any shop for the biometric,” the CJ advised Raja.

CJ Farooq said that counsel for the PTI chief had raised an objection on the last hearing that his client was not a member of the National Assembly (MNA).

“That is precisely what I am saying that the petition is inadmissible for hearing on the same ground,” Raja replied.

The CJ asked what would be the future of the case if Imran was not the MNA.

The petitioner’s lawyer said that Imran was still an MNA. “After winning an election, a candidate becomes an MNA,” he said, and added, “The PTI chief has already won by-elections on several seats. He is an MNA even without taking an oath for that. However, in order to sit in the assembly and cast votes, he will have to take oath.”

The CJ asked whether any duration had been set for taking the oath.

The petitioner’s counsel replied in negative.

CJ Farooq remarked that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had reviewed the case of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s oath.

The chief justice ordered the ECP to produce the record of the case on the next date of the hearing.

The court directed the petitioner’s lawyer to complete his arguments either by next Wednesday or Thursday, and adjourned the hearing until March 8.

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani