Hearing of reference seeking PTI’s Omar Ayub’s disqualification adjourned

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), hearing the reference, seeking disqualification of the PTI leader and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Omar Ayub Khan, on Wednesday adjourned the hearing when the defendant said that presently he was busy in connection with the national budget, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.   

A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the reference.

During the hearing, the opposition leader walked up to the rostrum and said that he had received a copy of the reference. “But I have yet to engage a lawyer. Besides that, the budget session is going to start. And being a member of the finance committee, I will attend budget-related meetings that will last for two weeks,” he said, and added, “Apart from that, I am also an opposition leader.” 

Counsel for the petitioner, on the occasion, said that the bench had to decide the case within 90 days.  

Concurring with Omar, the CEC said he could understand that a great responsibility rested on his shoulders since he was an opposition leader and the budget was also around the corner.

Later, Sikandar adjourned the hearing until July 1. 

On the other hand, seeking an explanation from NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for filing a reference against him, Leader of the Opposition in the NA Omar Ayub Khan has said that he was not informed of the reasons, which led to the filing of the reference. 

“Will you please tell me whether the reference was filed under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution,” Omar asked.

He also asked Ayaz to send him the attested copy of the reference besides informing him about the legal grounds for sending it.

The opposition leader said that he was not listened to or allowed to explain his position prior to filing the reference. “Please also inform whether it was filed at the request of the candidate losing the election,” he said, adding, “Please cite any instance in which a member of the parliament had been disqualified on the basis of a complaint filed by a losing candidate.”

Omar said that the speaker did not use his brain while filing the reference.  

Reporters: Usman Khan and Tayyab Saif