Disqualification references against Imran sent to Election Commission

Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Wednesday sent the Election Commission (EC) the references against Imran Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, which provoked the combined opposition to boycott the evening session.
Two references were earlier submitted to the speaker National Assembly by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, for the disqualification of PTI chief from the parliament membership levelling different allegations against him.
Presently, a media war is going on between the former cricketer Imran Khan and MQM after the May 12 mayhem in Karachi, holding the latter responsible for mercilessly killing of more than 40 activists of different political parties, who were on the roads to receive Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
On Wednesday, Mahmood Khan Achekzai, a veteran politician and Chairman of Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party on a point of order condemned the references sent to the EC. It provoked the combined opposition, which chanted anti-MQM slogans like, "Qatil Qatil MQM Qatil" and walked out of the House. Earlier, Achekzai alleged that the government is following double standard and biased policy as far as the opposition is concerned.
He said why the President and Prime Minster not removed the Sindh government as more than 40 people were killed in Karachi on the day when the Chief Justice was scheduled to visit Karachi, which he termed more serious crime than this.
"It is a mockery of justice and social norms. We, the combined opposition boycott this session against the one-sided application of rules by this government," he added.
Liaquat Baloch, deputy parliamentary leader of MMA, said that the Speaker has sent references against a Member on the dictation of a British citizen, whom he alleged is involved in creating law and order situation in Karachi.
He said references were made only due to the reason that he provided evidences against Altaf Hussain to a UK court. He further said that Karachi has been handed over to terrorists and no one was feeling safe in the city.
Khawaja Asif of Pakistan Muslim League (N) said on what ground the references were made against Imran Khan as no one in this House could claim that he/she was hundred percent neat and clean. He questioned that why the Speaker did not take such action prior to these references as a number of such acts were committed for the last many years and similar references are also pending in the Speaker's office.
Chaudhry Qameruzaman Kaira of the PPPP said the government totally relies on references like one against Chief Justice and the second against Imran Khan in a bid to save its rule.
"Why the Speaker did not send reference against Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the PML president and former Prime Minister to the Election Commission against whom the PPPP submitted a similar reference to the Speaker chamber," he questioned.
Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said the references against Imran Khan were sent to the Election Commission as per rules now it is up to the Election Commission to take decision.
He expressed his ignorance that there was a reference submitted against Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to his chamber, however, he said he would inquire about it and would sent to the EC.
Dr Sher Afgan Niazi said why the opposition was protesting against the references as Imran Khan on many occasions had admitted that he had committed such immoral acts on which the references were based.
Ali Ahmed Vaince, a treasury MNA, said Speaker should sent all the references submitted to his chamber whether related to the treasury members or opposition should sent to the Election Commission, which the Speaker sidelined.
Earlier, in the morning sitting of the session, the combined opposition staged a token walkout from the House protesting against the missile attack in Wana on Tuesday, killing 32 people. They returned to the session after being motivated by the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor and MNA Noor Jahan Panizai.