The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday directed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to submit reply on a petition challenging the appointment of Maryam Nawaz as the party's vice-president. A three-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza, heard the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
During the hearing, Jehangir Jadoon represented the PML-N, Barrister Zafarullah represented Maryam and Hassan Maan represented the PTI. The lawyer of the PML-N and Maryam asked for a copy of the petition from the ECP and said they would submit a response after going through it.
Directing the authorities concerned to provide a copy of the petition to PML-N and Maryam Nawaz's lawyer, the ECP asked them to submit their reply on the next hearing on June 25.
While talking to the media persons after the hearing, Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bukhari said that the PML-N counsel took a u-turn before the ECP when he stated that Maryam is not party's vice-president. Bukhari stressed being a convicted person Maryam cannot hold any party office.
In a major party reshuffle in May, Maryam was made one of the 16 vice-presidents of the PML-N along with Hamza Shehbaz, who is also the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was appointed as the senior vice-president, while Ahsan Iqbal was made the general secretary.
Meanwhile, the ECP will hold a public hearing on the issue of foreign funding case against Pakistan Peoples Party on June 20, 2019. According to an ECP office order, the scrutiny committee of the commission on May 28 decided to conduct hearing on June 20 regarding party funding of Pakistan Peoples Party. The ECP has directed the PPP to attend the hearing through an authorised office-bearer on June 20, 2019.