Tribunal rejects petition against Aslam Bhootani

CM Kamal had alleged rigging took place in general elections on NA-272 seat

QUETTA: An Appellate Tribunal of the Balochistan High Court on Thursday rejected provincial Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s petition alleging that Muhammad Aslam Bhootani had won the NA-272 Gwadar-Lasbela seat in the general election through rigging.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Abdullah Baloch, had reserved the judgement after completion of hearings in the petition on December 8. Justice Baloch announced the reserved verdict on Thursday.

Bhootani’s victory taken to election tribunal

Bhootani had contested the election on NA-272 Gwadar-Lasbela seat as an independent candidate and was elected an MNA after obtaining over 69,000 votes against his opponents CM Kamal and Akhtar Mengal.

Kamal had challenged Bhootani’s win by filing a petition in the Election Tribunal of the BHC, pleading that his opponent had won in the election by opting for rigging.

Bhootani had appeared before the tribunal and denied the allegations of rigging levelled against him in the petition.

12 of 20 candidates given clean chit by appellate tribunals

Senior lawyer and Supreme Court Bar Association President Amanullah Kanrani represented Bhootani in the tribunal, while Barrister Iftikhar Raza appeared on the behalf of Kamal.

Bhootani termed the rejection of the petition against him a victory of truth, saying, "Truth always prevails.”