BHC upholds appellate tribunal’s decision, bars PTI's Rind from contesting elections

PTI spokesperson says Rind plans to challenge the BHC decision in Supreme Court

QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Tuesday upheld the decision of the appellate tribunal wherein Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Balochistan President Yar Muhammad Rind was disqualified from contesting the general elections for NA-260 seat of Sibi district and PB-17 seat of Suny Shuran area of the same district.

The two-member bench, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Nazeer Langove, announced the verdict reserved last Saturday.

The PTI chief’s nomination papers had been rejected by a returning officer during the scrutiny process and an application filed with the appellate tribunal against the rejection was also dismissed.

The PTI provincial spokesperson said Rind plans to challenge the BHC decision in the Supreme Court.



The bench also barred former provincial minister Faiq Jamali from contesting elections in light of submission of a fake degree. Jamali had been cleared to contest elections by the appellate tribunal.

Meanwhile, Justice Afghan and Justice Langove also heard a petition filed by Saeed Ahmed Hashmi through his counsel Ameer Muhammad Tareen on non-provision of voter list by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

During the proceedings, an ECP representative assured that the list would be provided to the candidates soon. The petition was withdrawn after the assurance.

On Monday, the bench rejected the petition filed by Awami National Party’s Engineer Zamrak Achakzai against acceptance of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party’s National Assembly candidate Abdul Qahar Wadan.