The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday suspended the victory notifications of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates from the three Islamabad National Assembly (NA) constituencies.
A two-member division bench comprising Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir suspended the notification of the success of Anjum Aqeel Khan from NA-46, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary from NA 47, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz from NA-48.
During the hearing of intra-court appeals filed by Aamir Mughal, Shoaib Shaheen Advocate and Ali Bukhari against the election results, Shoaib Shaheen advocate said that he received around 380 Forms 45 that night.
He alleged that his [Shoaib] vote was being cast for Tariq Fazal and vice versa. “I barely could access the Returning Officer (RO) and asked him for correcting the mistake. To which the RO hastily asked me to leave or he will be kicked out of room.”
Shoaib Shaheen, who was PTI-backed candidate, informed the court that Form 45 was not being issued till 1am, so they staged a sit-in.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb inquired whether the RO’s signature there on Form 45. Shoaib confirmed the signature and said that he first submitted an application to the RO and then to the District Returning Officer (DRO).
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The complainant further informed the court that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) then issued an order to the RO to stop the final consolidation and sought a report within three days, but it has not been submitted yet.
The RO, who prepares Form 48 in the presence of all candidates, refused to issue final consolidation citing the ECP’s directive. Shoiab told the court that they later came to know that the RO was indulged in tampering at his office in the presence of candidate Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
“When we reached the RO office there, were were not allowed to enter. The ECP later issued a notification without consolidation despite our written plea,” Shoaib further pleaded.
He further said accepting his request, the IHC had ordered the conduct of entire process again.
If the electoral watchdog has withdrawn the notification of the successful candidate from the Lahore’s NA constituency of advocate Salman Akram Raja, the notifications of successful candidates of their constituencies also be withdrawn, Shoaib Shaeen pleaded.
The court then suspended the notification of the victory of the candidates of the three constituencies.
The court’s decision follows intra-court appeals filed against the election results.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th 2024.
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