ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has raised legal questions over the status of Kulsoom Nawaz as she won the by-election from NA-120 (Lahore-III) in September; however, she has yet to take oath as the member of National Assembly.
Begum Kulsoom Nawaz won the NA-120 by-election held on September 17, 2017 with 61,745 votes, beating main rival PTI’s Dr. Yasmin Rashid among others.
In a letter written to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said that Kulsoom Nawaz has failed to fulfill legal requirements.
Fawad Chaudhry said that the oath taking and participation of winning candidate in the sessions of National Assembly is a legal requirement. However, he added that after NA-120 by-election, three sessions of National Assembly have been held so far but Kulsoom Nawaz didn’t attend any of them.
The PTI Spokesperson said that notification of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s success was issued on September 27. He questioned that for how long the oath taking of membership be postponed? Can NA-120 by-election be declared nullified?, Fawad Chaudhry also questioned the ECP.
Kulsoom Nawaz, the Spouse of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has been undergoing treatment for cancer in a London Hospital since August 17. Having health issues and getting treatment abroad, neither Kulsoom Nawaz even could run her election campaign by herself nor she casted vote for herself in the by-election.
The former First Lady though won the by-election, retaining the seat for ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Lower House. However since she has not returned to Pakistan yet, her oath-taking as the member of National Assembly has not yet been performed.
