LHC gives PTI leader chance to debate unverified votes

Says there was no record of 29,000 votes with NADRA

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court gave another chance to the counsel of PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid to start argument on her petition in which she had challenged the alleged 29,000 unverified votes of the constituency NA-120.

Justice Aminuddin Khan of the LHC heard the petition moved by PTI leader Dr Rashid against the alleged unverified votes cast to the PML-N leader Kalsoom Nawaz, wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The petitioner said the record of over 29,000 votes of the constituency was not available with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and thus, the unverified votes were cast in the by-poll of the national assembly’s constituency held last year. She requested the court to direct the ECP to cancel the unverified votes and also set aside the result of the by-poll.



However, the counsel of Kalsoom Nawaz pleaded the court to dismiss the petition.

Earlier Dr Rashid had said told the media persons that the ECP and the PML-N had intentionally been delaying the matter to prolong the proceedings. She said the state machinery was used in the by-elections of NA-120 to secure victory for the candidate of the ruling party while the ECP took no action. The ECP had become a sub-wing of the PML-N as several petitions moved by the PTI before it were not entertained.

“PTI will not allow anyone to steal the mandate, she said adding that free and fair elections are important for the country’s development and prosperity.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2018.