Challenging disqualification: SHC seeks comments from ECP

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Tuesday comments from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and provincial advocate-general on a petition challenging disqualification of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)  MPA Basheer Ahmed Halepota from PS-55 over violation of electoral code of conduct. Muhammad Hassam Mirza, the son of estranged PPP leader Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, had approached the ECP accusing Halepota of violating the election code of conduct during the local government polls. Mirza had alleged that Halepota was present in the polling station during election of his son, Ali Asghar Halepota. Basheer’s lawyer, advocate Haq Nawaz Talpur maintained that his client was appointed as polling agent by the competent authority in accordance with the election rules and regulations. Therefore, his disqualification was illegal and unlawful, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2017.