SHC dismisses petition challenging Farooq Sattar's eligibility
ECP says plea ineffective as MQM-P leader lost in both constituencies he was contesting
Dr Farooq Sattar. PHOTO:EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed on Monday a plea for the disqualification of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar from contesting the elections, terming it infructuous.
A two-member bench heard the petition, which called to disqualify Dr Sattar from contesting the elections from NA-245 and NA-247 as he did not disclose 23 cases registered against him in his nomination papers. The petitioner claimed that Dr Sattar had been declared an absconder in many cases.
Dr Sattar's lawyer contended that the petition was non-maintainable as the petitioner was not a registered voter in the said constituencies. The lawyer argued that the petitioner also did not submit his objections to the relevant returning officer.
A lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took the stance that since Dr Sattar had lost elections from both the constituencies and the elections were over, the petition was no longer effective.
Agreeing with the ECP's argument, the SHC disposed of the plea.
No one can stop MQM if it decides to pursue south Sindh: Farooq Sattar
Dr Sattar's media talk
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Dr Sattar said Iqbal Kazmi had filed the petition to disqualify him, which was disposed of by the court on grounds of being ineffective.
The MQM-P leader said that the party will not join any government. However, it may vote for some candidate in the election for prime minister in order to keep democracy moving.
Dr Sattar claimed that the MQM-P's mandate from Karachi was stolen and it was made to lose. He added that the party's candidate for NA-239, Sohail Mansoor, lost with a difference of only 300 votes while 3,200 votes were rejected.
"Polling stations were taken over at night and we will expose those who were involved [in rigging]. Even our population was not counted correctly," Dr Sattar said. "We were not given Form 45," he decried, demanding that elections be held again in those constituencies where the MQM-P had lost.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed on Monday a plea for the disqualification of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar from contesting the elections, terming it infructuous.
A two-member bench heard the petition, which called to disqualify Dr Sattar from contesting the elections from NA-245 and NA-247 as he did not disclose 23 cases registered against him in his nomination papers. The petitioner claimed that Dr Sattar had been declared an absconder in many cases.
Dr Sattar's lawyer contended that the petition was non-maintainable as the petitioner was not a registered voter in the said constituencies. The lawyer argued that the petitioner also did not submit his objections to the relevant returning officer.
A lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took the stance that since Dr Sattar had lost elections from both the constituencies and the elections were over, the petition was no longer effective.
Agreeing with the ECP's argument, the SHC disposed of the plea.
No one can stop MQM if it decides to pursue south Sindh: Farooq Sattar
Dr Sattar's media talk
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Dr Sattar said Iqbal Kazmi had filed the petition to disqualify him, which was disposed of by the court on grounds of being ineffective.
The MQM-P leader said that the party will not join any government. However, it may vote for some candidate in the election for prime minister in order to keep democracy moving.
Dr Sattar claimed that the MQM-P's mandate from Karachi was stolen and it was made to lose. He added that the party's candidate for NA-239, Sohail Mansoor, lost with a difference of only 300 votes while 3,200 votes were rejected.
"Polling stations were taken over at night and we will expose those who were involved [in rigging]. Even our population was not counted correctly," Dr Sattar said. "We were not given Form 45," he decried, demanding that elections be held again in those constituencies where the MQM-P had lost.