Supreme Court disqualifies MNA Iftikhar Cheema for hiding assets

Lahore: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday de-seated PML-N MNA Iftikhar Cheema for hiding assets while filing nomination papers.The court also ordered for re-election in NA-101.Iftikhar Cheema is a real brother of former IG Motorways Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema.

Iftikhar Cheema had been elected to the National Assembly from Gujranwala’s NA-101 constituency. He bagged 99191 votes and defeated Muhammad Ahmad Chatha of PML-J by a huge margin of almost 40000 votes.

The apex court announced the decision on a petition filed by opposition candidate Ahmad Chattha.

The plaintiff alleged that the respondent had concealed details of his assets and bank statements while filing his nomination papers to the Election Commission of Pakistan to contest NA-101 election.

The defence lawyer argued that his client did not hide anything. One of the accounts mentioned in the petition has been closed while another one is for mosque funds.

He said Iftikhar Cheema also gifted his Rawalpindi and Islamabad houses, thus, he didn’t commit any dishonesty in the nomination papers.

Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked that Iftikhar Cheema is not a common person. He has remained member of the National Assembly in the previous government as well.

He should have revealed proper details of his assets and property, Justice Jamali said.