Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought a reply from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over a petition challenging Maryam Nawaz’s appointment as party vice-president.
A three-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza heard the petition filed by Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bokhari, Kanwal Shauzab and Javeria Zafar. The petitioner had stated that Maryam is ineligible to hold any political or public office, so her appointment as a PML-N vice-president is in contradiction with the constitution and law of the land.
During the hearing, 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.
In July 2018, an accountability court announced the verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption reference, sentencing Maryam to seven years for abetment after she was found "instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father" and one year for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). She was disqualified from contesting polls after being convicted.
However, in January, the apex court upheld an Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict that had ordered the suspension of prison sentences awarded to Maryam and her father.
Last week, Maryam was made one of the 16 vice-presidents of the party along with Hamza Shehbaz. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was appointed as senior vice president of PML-N, while Ahsan Iqbal was made general secretary.
