Erstwhile premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Monday said that if the elections were not held on time, those responsible should be proceeded against under Article 6 of the constitution.
Speaking to the media outside the Rawalpindi bench of Lahore High Court (LHC), where he had appeared for the hearing of an appeal filed against his candidature from NA-57 Murree constituency, the former prime minister said that the nation, not courts, decide the fate of elections. To a question about nominating candidates against former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar, Abbasi said that the party had made the decision. “The party’s decision is our decision.”
Abbasi is contesting on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s ticket from NA-53, as well as his home constituency of NA-57 Murree. His nomination from Murree were challenged in the Rawalpindi appellate tribunal.
Petitioner Masood Ahmed Abbas had challenged Abbasi’s candidature, accusing him of extorting money from the national exchequer. The petitioner had alleged that the candidate, during his tenure as the prime minister, had obtained Rs 1 billion from the national kitty and given the amount to his son to perform Umrah.
Published in Daily Times, June 26th 2018.
