While hearing the reference against 25 dissident lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Punjab Assembly, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accepted the rejoinder submitted by the PTI, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
A three-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard references against 25 dissident lawmakers of the PTI in Punjab Assembly.
The PTI submitted the signed rejoinder to the ECP commission at which, Shehzad Shaukat, counsel for the dissident lawmakers, said that the signed rejoinder and the unsigned rejoinder were different from each other, urging the ECP commission to reject the new rejoinder.
At this, lawyer for PTI Faisal Chaudhry contended that the dissident lawmakers were trying to hide behind a technical error.
Salman Ikram Raja, counsel for the dissident PTI lawmakers, said while giving arguments that under Article 63A, the parliamentary party issued instructions to the lawmakers.
Upon this, Raja was asked whether the leader of the parliamentary party could also issue a policy to which Raja replied that the party chairman could not issue instructions.
“Imran Khan had directed the PTI lawmakers through a letter to vote for Parvez Elahi in the election of Punjab Chief Minister on April 4,” stated lawyer Raja.
“In the rejoinder submitted today, the affidavit is not of Imran Khan but of Sibtain Khan. Why has Imran Khan been reluctant to submit an affidavit? It is because he knows that a false affidavit can lead to an action against him,” he added.
Lawyer Salman Akram Raja also said that the party lawmakers had objected to the nomination of a candidate from another party for the post of Chief Minister.
“Instead of consulting with the parliamentary party, Imran Khan dictated the lawmakers. In the case of Ayesha Gulalai, it has been said that the decision of the parliamentary party cannot be violated. The Supreme Court has said that the personal decision of the party chairman has no legal status. In such a case, the members cannot be disqualified,” he added.
Reporter: Rozina Ali