Re-poll ordered on PA seat where Shah Mehmood Qureshi lost

ECP disqualifies Salman for being younger than required age

ISLAMABAD: Election authorities have ordered re-polling in Punjab Assembly’s constituency PP-217 after disqualifying Muhammad Salman who had defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf heavyweight Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the July 25 general election.

Two voters from the constituency had challenged nomination papers of Muhammad Salman who contested polls as an independent candidate. The petitioners claimed Salman was less than 25 years of age at the time of filing nomination, rendering him ineligible to contest elections.

Besides other conditions, a candidate should be minimum 25 years of age to contest for national or provincial assembly seat and 30 years of age for a Senate seat. His nomination papers were nonetheless accepted by the returning officer and the pre-election tribunal.



The petitioners later moved the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which then called family record of Salman from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) that substantiated the petitioners’ claims.

In a latest development, the ECP disqualified Salman and ordered re-polling in the constituency while the new schedule for election is likely to be notified later this week.



Reportedly having covert support of a powerful faction within the PTI, Salman who is a new comer in the politics of the area had secured 35,294 votes against Qureshi’s 31,716.

Analysts believe if Qureshi, the foreign minister now, had won the provincial assembly seat, he could have been a serious candidate for the office of Punjab Chief Minister.

After winning as independent, Salman supported the PTI and was compensated with appointment as special assistance to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.