ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has turned a blind eye to the illegitimate seizure of three luxury vehicles by former president Asif Ali Zardari from Toshakhana but it took notice of the sale of the state gifts by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former premier Imran Khan.
The ECP’s move to pursue the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan as the former premier was accused of selling the state gifts.
However, the ECP did not see what happened in Zardari’s case related to Toshakhana as the former president took three luxury vehilces including two BMWs and a Lexus.
The ECP sent a notice to Khan on the reference filed for his disqualification by Ali Gohar Khan, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha of the PML-N, and five others under Article 63 of the constitution.
The commission continued the hearing of the case despite the argument raised by the Barrister Gohar, Imran Khan’s counsel, saying that neither is Imran Khan a member of the National Assembly nor can the ECP send him a notice.
In response, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said that the PTI chairman is still an MNA as his resignation was not processed and approved yet.
CEC Raja noted that the resignations that did get sent to the ECP were processed and MNAs were also de-notified. Directing the petitioners to provide the reference to the PTI lawyers, the ECP adjourned the hearing till August 22.
Back in April, Prime Minister Shehbaz revealed that in “violation of the law”, Khan sold Toshakhana gifts — comprising diamond jewellery sets, bracelets and wrist watches — worth Rs140m in Dubai.
In Zardari’s case, it seems that the criteria of the hearing is different for the ECP. A copy of the JIT was also obtained by News360 stated, “The above evidence shows that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, while he was President of Pakistan, used laundered proceeds of crime from ‘Fake Accounts’ for payments of import duty of ‘Tosha Khana’ vehicles registered in his name till date and taking them at only 15% of the value.
The case was also referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for a thorough inquiry, prosecuting all those who were involved and recovering of proceeds of the crime.
Analysts said that the election commission showed impartially by the move as it was pursuing the case against the PTI chief but neglecting Zardari’s case.