Minister disqualified for polling station attack

FIRs ordered against his son, supporters

PESHAWAR:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Transport Minister Shah Muhammad Wazir for five years who was found guilty of attacking a polling station, snatching election material and causing unrest in Bakka Khel, Bannu district of K-P during the first phase of local government polls in the province.

ECP on Tuesday also disqualified his son and ordered police to arrest the followers of Shah Muhammad and investigate the matter from all aspects thoroughly.

Shah Muhammad Wazir has also been de-notified as MPA from PK-89 Bannu.

Shah Muhammad Wazir is accused of attacking a polling station in Bakka Khel, Bannu, snatching the election material along with his son and supporters which caused a law and order situation and led to the suspension of local government elections in the entire tehsil.

A 21-page decision was issued by member ECP Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi. During the hearing all the allegations against the minister, his son and supporters proved right, resulting in his disqualification for five years.

As per the decision, he and his son will not be able to contest any election for the next five years.

The ECP also ordered registration of an FIR against his son Mamoonur Rashid. Cases will also be registered against their supporters Gulbaz Khan, Muhabat Khan and Quduratullah and further action will be taken against them.

Police has been ordered to investigate the case thoroughly and the provincial assembly seat on which Shah Muhammad Wazir was elected as MPA has been declared vacant.

On the other hand, Shah Muhammad Wazir has said that he had not received the detailed judgment of the ECP and he would take the legal route once the judgment is received and examined.

In a video statement he appealed his supporters to stay calm as they will be victorious in the end. He said that a legal course will be taken as soon as he gets the judgment.