ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday dismissed the disqualification reference against PTI Senator Saifullah Abro, which had been moved by Senators Shahadat Awan and Majid Mahmood.
The reference alleged that Senator Abro did not meet the eligibility criteria for the position of technocrat and had a pending NAB reference. The petition further claimed that the affidavit filed by Senator Abro contained misleading information regarding his dependents, farm income and assets. She accused him of concealing his children’s ownership of agricultural land in the asset declaration submitted with his nomination papers.
Senate President Yousaf Raza Gillani cited Article 63(2) and referred the matter to the ECP under clause (3) of the same Article, asking the Commission to determine whether Senator Abro should be disqualified as a member of the Senate .
However, the three-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja ultimately ruled in favor of Senator Abro, dismissing the reference to disqualification.
The ECP issued its reserved verdict on January 9, declaring Senator Abro eligible for the position of technocrat and dismissing the petition.
