Election Commission to hear petitions seeking PM Sharif's disqualification

The Election Commission of Pakistan will hold a preliminary hearing of petitions seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and four of his relatives on August 3.

The disqualification petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Awami Muslim League were submitted after the Panama Papers' leaks about Pakistani politicians running off shore companies, reports the Dawn.

While the rest of the parties only petitioned against the Prime Minister, the PPP also sought the disqualification of four of his relatives including Sharif's son-in-law (retired) Captain Mohammad Safdar, his daughter's father-in-law and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Sharif's brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz.

All of them are accused of concealing the family assets in their statements submitted with the ECP.

The petitions also accuse Sharif of tax evasion, sending money via illegal means and concealing assets

The petition alleged that the Prime Minister and the members of his family sent money out of Pakistan via illegal means and that Prime Minister Sharif does not meet the qualification criteria for holding a public office under articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.