Pakistan

SC suspends tribunal's verdict to de-seat PML-N MNA from NA-154

Top court stays re-elections scheduled for October 11 in Lodhran-I constituency

Hasnaat Mailk September 29, 2015

pti 039 s jahangir tareen and pml n 039 s muhammad siddique khan baloch

PTI's Jahangir Tareen and PML-N's Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court suspended on Tuesday an election tribunal’s verdict to de-seat Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Sadiq Baloch, as it issued an order to stay the by-election in NA-154, Lodhran-I constituency.

Following an August 26 verdict by an election tribunal in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Jahangir Tareen, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced re-polling in the constituency on October 11.

The tribunal had also imposed a lifetime ban on Baloch declaring his educational certificate bogus.

Read: Election tribunal rules in favour of PTI, orders re-poll in NA-154

The three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Saqib Nisar took up the appeal on Tuesday.

Counsel for Sadiq Baloch Shahzad Shaukat said the tribunal foreclosed rights of the petitioner to contest any further election by attributing corrupt practices to him.

Read: Banners up for Lodhran by-polls

He claimed a report by NADRA had indicated that the election in question was held in the normal course and no corrupt and illegal practices were used.

Commenting on the verdict, General Secretary Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jahangir Tareen – a contestant in the election – claimed that PML-N approached the court because their defeat had become obvious.

COMMENTS (44)

AFK | 8 years ago | Reply Other then The Men In Uniform, The whole system deteriorated and become plagued, it.s a sorry condition for a nation....... Even at times we witnesses too often our superior judges behave in a timed manner.

Waqas | 8 years ago | Reply Sorry but this reporter Hasnaat Mailk and obviously tribune has to be blamed as well for twisting the whole thing and not presenting the fact

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Waqas | 8 years ago | Reply So JKT's lawyer said I cannot prepare the case in two days and i cannot prepare it in week, please defer it indefinitely and this is why it is PMLN's and Judge's fault? PTI Followers never bother to go into the details what actually happened but always go for what PTI "markets" on the channel. Baloch's degree is not fake and he has the right to challenge it in the court and it wasn't either the first hearing. JKT's lawyer has been running away as always and put the blame on judiciary and pmln.

naeem | 8 years ago | Reply Good decision by Supreme Court

Ibrar | 8 years ago | Reply @MMab: Your disappointment is very understandable. I too have often been disappointed even though I am settled outside Pakistan and not directly effected by the day to day life in Pakistan. I think our society needs more time to evolve into the type that people like yourself and me would want to see. With the free media people are becoming educated and politically more enlightened although the process of change is likely to be slow and painful unless we have unexpected arrival of a true leader who can bring revolution with any blood shed.. Once people begin to realise that corruption has no role and once everyone pay their taxes our country would be no less than heaven. Let us not loose hope and not worry who will form the next government, through a natural process of selection leaders will grow and continue to reform as time passes. Have a good day.

Aik_Paki | 8 years ago | Reply Easy to by the judges than buying the election in Lodhran. N-league has gone for easy option. However, in NA122 NS will buy the election. Lahore's has to wake up now. PTI need more than 20K margin to win against N-league Pahelwans.

Sharjeel Awan | 8 years ago | Reply Face saving for PTI because PTI was losing in the by-elections.

Sodomite | 8 years ago | Reply Our SC judges need to read the tea leaves before deciding. Most of Pakistan's problems stem from the illogical verdicts on constitutional matters given by the SC.

fair | 8 years ago | Reply @jane: are you sure that pti keeps 22 seats in national assembly,should i tell you 3 MNAs of pti those are still positioned as MNAs based on stay order by supreme court, other 3 plz add here, otherwise i consider it a figment of your imagination in hatred of rivals.

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: Idiocy taken to a new level.

Anon | 8 years ago | Reply Supreme Court of Nawaz at it again!

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @The Failed Rebel: No bull crap son, give us proof of strong cases of corruption against the Prime Minister and his ministers. Just because Niazi plunders zakat/sadqa funds of SKMH for his personal and political gains, don't mean that other people are also of lesser character and commit such acts of moral turpitude. And for your information, Siddiq Baloch was not disqualified on the basis of rigging. ET judgement held him responsible for questionable educational credentials and mis-declaration of assets. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf must work hard to introduce more accountability in its ranks and all corrupt elements must be removed and punished Couldn't agree more and the best start would have been to implement Justice Wajih's recommendation in its true letter and spirit and Niazi should have kicked out the corrupts like Tareen, Aleem Khan, Azam Sawati and Pervaiz Khattak.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply A lesson of a lifetime for Tareen - You can spend a fortune of your money earned through corrupt practices like sugar hoarding and getting illegal mining permits in KPK, in the hope of buying the soul and vote of the voters of your constituency - but alas such gimmicks would be of no use. If money could have guaranteed a positive election result: A) Q League with all the money and might of establishment would have never lost 2008 elections B) Zardari with all his trillions would not have seen PPP being relegated as a interior sindh based regional party in 2013 C) Nawaz Sharif with all his wealth could have easily bought votes in Karachi, interior sindh and KPK in 2013 Tareen should thank his lucky stars that SC's stay order has proved to be a divine intervention that has prevented him from massively wasting his money any further.

The Failed Rebel | 8 years ago | Reply My people, Pay no heed to the paid commentators. Economy is tough, so don't blame them. Regarding the Supreme Court verdict, I think the new report is inaccurate. The reason of Baloch's disqualification must have been due to the lack of substantial evidence of education. It would be utter nonsense if two judges pass different rulings when it comes to the casting of bogus votes. This would imply the rules of judgement as being vague. The people who support PML-N do not see the desecration of masses done by their leaders. When a party's sitting ministers including the Prime Minister have strong cases of corruption against them, only the retarded would vote for them. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf must work hard to introduce more accountability in its ranks and all corrupt elements must be removed and punished. Otherwise, they too, will lose moral authority like PML-N has. (Hilarious: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar with written affidavit of corruption and money laundering asking the traders to pay taxes) But my people bring this misery onto themselves, I wish they could all see.

jamal | 8 years ago | Reply Look at the pictures of both, you will get the celar answer who is repressenting 'Status Quo culture'. PTI must now learn to perform in KPK, and also to follow its ideology like say not to family politics, say no to corruption etc.

Nice | 8 years ago | Reply @ MMAB Even a blind can see that PTI is doing everything which corrupt parties do, like encoirgaing family politics, attracting corrupts from other parties, kicking out justoice from party, and doing nothing for KPK. Even a blind can see their poor performance. How can a person with vision of eyes vote for PTI, who make big slogans but destroy it.

Akhtar | 8 years ago | Reply @MMAB and in 2018 you will say that KPK is the most backward of province, and its leadership is more inclined towards Taliban and do not speak a word against them. You will say in 2018 that half of KPK people travel to Punjab to find jobs. By the way good decision

jane | 8 years ago | Reply Supreme court gave 6 PTI MNA stay out of only 22 seats. who to supreme court belongs. This is a blessing in disguise for PTI as they will not have to face the embarrassment of defeat again.

jane | 8 years ago | Reply Lifeline for PTI. Saved from further embarrassment as in other 6 bi-elecetion, now PTI should say 'thanks supreme court'

Shahid | 8 years ago | Reply Somehow SC has always disappointed the masses. This puts a big question mark over their impartiality.

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply One set of judges say that another set of judges are wrong.........no wonder the people say that the judicial system is BROKEN.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman: So you are basically implying that the ET judges verdicts in favor on PTI, behaved in a just and ethical manner and the judges of SC who issued a stay on merit are sellouts? PTI should have first fought this battle against Tareen, Aleem Khan, Azam Swati and Pervaiz Khattak who were declared corrupt and a bad influence on PTI by none other than Justice Wajihuddin.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Pity on PML-N for obstructing Bud-Tareen's entry in parliament since 2013. He is so heavily under debt after blowing away billions of his ill gotten wealth (courtesy Musharraf) on IM the DIM. Tareen desperately needs a break and wants to recover all this investments.

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply It was too much to expect the civil servants of Pakistan behaving in a just and ethical manner. The battle for Pakistan's democracy will now be fought against the corrupt judges and the ECP. And PTI is the only party fighting this battle, the rest are saving democracy by criticizing the PTI and spitting cynical vitriol.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @Kemal: Third umpire got its plate full and won't even think about intervention, despite being cajoled by a "certain class" of loser politicians who cannot win more than 20 NA seats in a conventional manner. For arguments sake, even if the third force intervene - you can be rest assured that this force would be of no use to that dharna wala.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Also to be noted that before reinstating Siddiq Baloch, SC judges asked Tareen's counsel if he would like to present any tangible argument which would support Tareen's claim. What does the counsel do, he asks for an indefinite break in the proceedings and said that he would revert after consultation with his client. I mean if Tareen and PTI had rock solid evidences against Baloch, the counsel would have immediately put them in front of the SC judges and pleaded with them against Baloch's reinstatement. Now SC would get into the bottom of how ET Judges in Lahore and Multan were bought by Tareen to dispense verdicts against Ayaz Sadiq and Baloch. Ayaz Sadiq has already challenged the fine of Rs. 2.5 million levied on him by ET in SC.

JA | 8 years ago | Reply This is how the justice is delayed in Pakistan. Mind it, the tribunal members were also judges.

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply It is Baloch's right to get all his legal avenues. Although, election would be nice. In any case, this is just so no complaints. NA 122 will be a massive PMLN victory. @ To all those crying above, the Supreme court has simply said there is enough here to review the decision of a lower level judge. If you are in a legal trouble and lose case in a lower court, will you not go to a higher court? It applies to every one. Also remember, PMLN was third in this seat with 45K votes. So even if By elections happen, the victory was going to be PMLN any ways. Y

WB | 8 years ago | Reply SC simply supporting its Master. The man who paid the judges during NRO.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @Laymen: This is what politics is all about ma' man. Even Niazi claimed back on 23rd March, 2013 that he would never lie to the people of Pakistan - the rest is history as they say. As for all those cult worshipers experiencing a fit of pique just like Jahaz Tareen, please see below for some solace and keep y'all mouths shut: A) NA-47 Qaisar Jamal (PTI) - Disqualified by ET which ordered re-election. Qaisar Jamal goes to SC and get a stay in his favor. Stay still active since last year. http://tribune.com.pk/story/708742/na-47-supreme-court-restores-pti-candidate-as-mna/ B) NA-16 Rai Hassan Nawaz (PTI) - Disqualified for life by ET for electoral mismanagement mis-disclosure of assets. Goes to SC and gets a stay. Stay still active C) PS-93 Hafeezuddin (PTI) - Disqualified for "Election Rigging" on a plea by the runner-up belonging to Jamat-e-Islami. Runs to SC and gets a stay which is still active http://www.dawn.com/news/1123884 D) NA-53 Ghulam Sarwar Khan (PTI) - ET ordered re-election for holding bogus educational certifications. Shamelessly sitting as a parliamentarian on a stay order E) NA-19 Raja Haider Zaman (PTI) - ET orders re-elections in 7 polling stations of this constituency. Omar Ayub Khan of PML-N wins re-elections. Haider Zaman goes to SC and gets Omar Ayub's win nullified. Complete re-polling ordered in NA-19 and Noon comes back with an even bigger number of votes

Kemal | 8 years ago | Reply I'm afraid that they're deliberately playing foul time and again to invite third umpire intervention.

Kemal | 8 years ago | Reply I'm afraid to say that they're deliberately playing foul time and again for 3rd umpire intervention!!

m.n.m | 8 years ago | Reply tribunal decision is deferred not terminated ,then why so painful,

MMB | 8 years ago | Reply @samiullah khatir: I bet you laughed your lips off after writing this comment. It was a good joke tough. ""The great work done by government underleadeship of MNS"" hahahaha really good, please also mention some continuosly scandals and corruption cases and promises

Proud Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @MMab: Blind person means person with PTI affiliation???

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply SC has also observed that Jahaz Tareen submitted forged documents relating to Siddiq Baloch's education credentials and in connivance with ET judge, had Siddiq Baloch disqualified for holding a bogus degree......this is a height of disgrace and goes on to prove that this degenerate lot would do anything and everything to rule this country.

Satan | 8 years ago | Reply Might. is. right.

Laymen | 8 years ago | Reply But once I heard some one thumping the chest and saying loudly that we will not go to SC for stay order and will fight on the ground, I have never seen some one who is so afraid of getting the mandate again from the public, yes the same public which they say have voted them overwhelmingly in 2013 elections

samiullah khatir | 8 years ago | Reply Good decision by SC as some of judges want to derail democracy by giving faulty decisions against Elected Members to defame government and put an end to the great work done by Government under the leadership of MNS

Mali | 8 years ago | Reply Who is scared now??

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply Dharna walas tried to make circus with others have themselves become a circus.Now go and beat your chests once again. For the taste alone!

Saud Bin Farooq | 8 years ago | Reply I wish they do the same for NA 122 and then come on TV with victory signs and quote that this is what it means to go in "Public Courts" .

MMab | 8 years ago | Reply Evena blind person saw massive rigging in NA154 but judges won't see it. Anyways, what else can be expected. I used to feel sorry for poor Pakistanis living majority living below pverty line. They just sell vote for a small benefit. Understandable. But what worries me is people here who can read and write English and still supporting government for what other reason. Have they lost ability to judge fairly? Judge for the country not for your own benefit. This is the difference between India and Pakistan. I went to India and saw even the most corrupt polititian will put country first while all other corrupt activities after the country. In Pakistan the polititian would only think of there self even if they have sell Pakistan and country's dignity. Once we learn to stand by truth even tough you are the only one and everyone is on the other side, thats how nations are made. Sad to say that I am losing hope day by day. Not because of goverment and its massive scandals but because of people who still love them and bring them to power again. Just wait and watch. 2000 I said same. 2008 got worse. In 2008 I said worse. 2013 got worse. Today I am saying same and in 2018 majority won't have electricity and will be unable to feed themselves if we don't wake up.

Neutral | 8 years ago | Reply Whatever you do IK , Supreme court still belongs to Sharifs

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