ISLAMABAD, JULY 04 (DNA): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in its reply that Maryam Nawaz’s appointment as party’s vice president is an internal matter.

A three-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza heard the petition by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking Maryam Nawaz’s removal from the party post. Maryam’s counsel Barrister Zafarullah and PML-N lawyer Jahangir Jadoon appeared before the ECP.

The reply submitted by PML-N stated that the petitioner has no relation with the internal affairs of the party and the plea has been submitted on the basis of dishonesty. The plaintiff is not affected by any means owing to PML-N’s in-house decisions.

The commission was told that the Articles 62 and 63 are applicable on party chief, not any member. PML-N not only requested the ECP to dismiss the plea, but also asked to impose heavy fine on petitioner, Malika Bukhari.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf counsel requested the commission to issue copy of the answer submitted by PML-N. The ECP approved the plea and adjourned the hearing till August 1.

Talking to media outside the ECP, Barrister Zafarullah affirmed that PTI representatives will back off in the next hearing and we will ensure that the ECP fines them after dismissing their petition.

Nawaz Sharif’s case was different as Maryam Nawaz is not the party head and no clause of the constitution bars her from keeping the party post, he added.=DNA

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