LAHORE: Former federal minister Humayun Akhtar was fined by an election tribunal of the Lahore High Court for failing to produce evidence challenging the election of PML-N MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq.
The tribunal adjourned the hearing for June 16 and directed the petitioner to pay Rs10,000.
Khawaja Saad won the general election from NA-125 (Lahore) against Humayun Akhtar.
The petitioner accused the MNA of concealing his assets in the statement submitted to the election commission. He argued that under Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution, the member should be disqualified from parliament.
The respondent then filed an application requesting the LHC to declare the petition against him as ‘non-maintainable’.
Verdict on Haji Mudassar’s disqualification petition on June 14
Meanwhile, another election tribunal comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh of the LHC on Friday said that the verdict on the petition filed against PML-N MNA Haji Mudassar Qayyum Nehra would be announced on June 14.
Haji Mudassar’s opponent Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz (PML-Q), who lost the election in the NA-100 constituency (Gujranwala), had filed the petition. He had alleged that the MNA contested the 2008 general elections on a fake degree.
He further stated that Haji Nahra had won the election as an independent candidate but later joined the PML-N. He requested the court to disqualify the MNA invoking provisions in Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.
More petitions, more fines
An election tribunal of the LHC on Friday directed State Minister Tariq Anees and Daniyal Aziz (PML-Q) to pay Rs15,000 each in fine.
The PML-Q member had challenged the state minister’s victory and failed to present evidence before the local commission on time.
Daniyal Aziz lost the election against the respondent from NA-116 (Narowal) constituency and accused the minister of rigging the polls.
Tariq Anees was fined Rs30,000 previously as well for failing to appear before the commission. He paid the due sum on Thursday.
LHC summons NA-69 ballot boxes
Following an election petition against PML-Q MNA Sumaira Malik, the election tribunal of the LHC summonsed ballot boxes of NA-69 (Khushab) constituency.
The tribunal comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh directed the election commission to produce result sheets and the rejected votes.
The petition was filed by Umar Aslam, who lost the election to Sumaira, and alleged that the election commission had changed the results finalised by the presiding officers.
He sought the disqualification of Sumaira Malik and requested the tribunal to declare him a returned candidate.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 12th, 2010.
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