FBR challenges ECP decision to declare its building as polling station

SHC directs RO to visit other public institutions in vicinity

KARACHI: On the plea of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) against designating its building in Gulistan-e-Jauhar as a polling station, the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Friday the concerned returning officer (RO) to visit Karachi University and other public institutions in the area and submit a report.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared the FBR building as a polling station for NA-242, 243 and 244 and PS-99 and 101.

The FBR officials informed the court that the building housed sensitive record which could be harmed if it was used as a polling station. He also argued that due to the closing of fiscal year, the bureau officials had immense work load these days and they would not be able to carry out their work if the building was used for election purposes.

The FBR representative suggested that there were various other government institutions including the University of Karachi in the vicinity of the FBR building that could be used as the polling station, to which the SHC directed the RO to visit the public institutions nearby and submit a report by Monday.



 

Notice issued to Farooq Sattar

The SHC also issued notice to Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar on a petition against contesting elections from multiple constituencies. Dr Sattar has submitted nominations forms for three NA constituencies including NA-241, 245 and 247.

Meanwhile, the court summoned the concerned RO and parties on July 2 on a plea of an aspiring candidate, Habib Jan. Jan's nomination papers had been rejected by the RO and later his appeal against the rejection was also turned down by an appellate tribunal.

Jan informed the SHC that his papers were rejected on the basis of dual nationality, however, he had surrendered the dual nationality and also had a certificate for it. He requested the SHC to annul the tribunal's decision and allow him to contest the elections.