ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday sought reply from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members on a plea seeking the disqualification of Faryal Talpur as a member of the provincial assembly.
The petition was filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Arsalan Taj and Rabia Azfar Nizami in June 2019 calling for Talpur’s disqualification under Article 62 of the Constitution as she had failed to declare details of her assets to the ECP.
ECP member Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi presided the hearing in which he inquired about absentia of Talpur’s counsel in previous proceedings.
“You are using delay tactics,” ECP told Talpur’s lawyer. “You were given notice of January 24.”
“We didn’t receive any notice,” Talpur’s lawyer implored. “We want to challenge the petition.”
In response, the ECP told the lawyer to challenge the petition ‘right now and we will announce the verdict.”
ECP adjourned the hearing till April 2 as Talpur’s lawyer requested ‘more time’ for preparation of the case.
Last year in December, Talpur, was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against surety bonds worth Rs10 million in a case pertaining to money laundering through fake accounts.
