The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has received references from Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq seeking disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and PTI Member Jahangir Tareen as Members of National Assembly. 

Meanwhile, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq rejected all four references seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification for allegedly violating Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution following the revelations made in the Panama Papers.

The sources in ECP confirmed that the Commission received references from Speaker National Assembly and is under review of the Commission.

They said that the Speaker National Assembly rejected one reference filed against Imran Khan but forwarded another reference filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Daniyal Aziz. The reference stated that Imran Khan had made misstatements about his Banigala property.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on August 5 submitted a reference to the NA Speaker seeking disqualification of Imran Khan.

The reference was submitted by eight PML-N lawmakers including Daniyal Aziz and Talal Chaudhry. The issue of Imran Khan's off-shore companies, his flats outside Pakistan, income and Banigala land were raised in the reference.

The reference sent against Tareen to ECP alleged that during General Pervez Musharraf's regime, he, being a Federal Minister, received Rs 101 million as loan from the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in the name of Tandlianwala Sugar Mills, which was written off in 2005.

Therefore, he concealed facts while submitting his nomination papers for general elections in 2013 and a by-poll in 2015, it said.

In his reaction, Chairman PTI Imran Khan told media that Nawaz Sharif had corrupted another institution, Speaker's Office, which did not act neutrally on the matter.

He questioned about the fresh revelations the Speaker had found against him. Expressing surprise, he said, he declared in his asset details about his flat in London but nobody challenged this in 2013 general election.

He said he filed a reference against Nawaz Sharif's disqualification after Panama leaks revelations, which was a new evidence.

Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed said that Speaker NA Ayaz Sadiq is a remote-controlled Speaker.

Speaker National Assembly received eight references, out of which four were filed against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, two against PTI chief Imran Khan, one against Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Achakzai and one was against PTI leader Jahangir Tareen.

Ayaz Sadiq rejected AML chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's reference on the basis that his 182-page reference contained insufficient evidence against Nawaz Sharif.

The Speaker also rejected reference against Mehmood Achakzai. ECP will resume hearing of disqualification references filed by opposition parties, including the PPP and PTI, against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family on Tuesday. -Business Recorder