Iftikhar Chaudhry files reference against PM Sharif for disqualification

Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDC) chief Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that his party has filed a reference against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seeking his disqualification as he is not sadiq (truthful) and ameen (trustworthy) in view of Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution.

The reference has been filed to National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, reports the Express Tribune.

The former chief justice announced at a news conference that his party's chief organiser in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Sardar Umar Farooq Khan has filed a reference against the Premier under Article 63(2) of the Constitution.

According to him, the reference has been filed after detailed investigations related to the Premier's business.

Under Article 63 (2), "If any question arises whether a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and if he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission."

So, the Election Commission of Pakistan shall decide the question within 90 days from its receipt.

Earlier, the disqualification petitions against Prime Minister Sharif were also filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Awami Muslim League after the Panama Papers' leaks.