Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader
and Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Faisal Vawda was once
again not present for the hearing of his disqualification case before the
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday. Four-member
bench of the ECP headed by Member ECP from Punjab Justice (retd)
Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi heard the case.
Upon the minister’s consistent non-appearance, the ECP asked that he
show respect to the same parliamentary body that he is a member of.
The minister’s lawyer filed a petition seeking withdrawal of the
summons and also objected to the fine of Rs50,000 imposed by the
ECP for non-appearance at the last hearing.
The lawyer stated that detailed arguments have been given on the
admissibility of the petitions. He added that first, the commission
should decide on its jurisdiction and the admissibility of petitions as
the ECP cannot hear the petitions after a year-and-a-half.
Justice (retd) Altaf Qureshi said that even then to keep the case
hanging in balance this way was incomprehension and that Faisal
Vawda has till date not submitted his reply. Member Balochistan added
that it seems that Faisal Vawda does not think too highly of the ECP.
Justice (retd) Altaf Qureshi said, “Where does the law say that we
[ECP} do not have authority to hear [the case]? It would be better not
to waste your time and ours.”
“Tell us clearly why the decision did not come? Are they above the
law? Doesn’t he respect the supremacy of the parliament that he is a
member of?”
Upon these questions, the lawyer informed that Faisal Vawda was in
Karachi and could not come as his mother was ill.
The ECP rejected Faisal Vawda’s plea challenging the summons as well
as rejected his plea in the disqualification case, where his lawyer had
argued that the case was inadmissible.
Vawda submitted a fine of Rs50,000 to the commission, which directed
him to deposit it in Sweet Home.
Member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Irshad Qaiser said that the Election
Tribunal Karachi has asked to raise the issue of dual citizenship in the
relevant forum which is the Election Commission.
Faisal Vawda’s lawyer said that his client wants to become a senator
and therefore, wants this case to be settled. He also added an apology
to the Election Commission from his client for non-appearance in the
case. The ECP adjourned the hearing till 10 th March while summoning
Faisal Wawda.
