SC reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker

The Supreme Court reinstated on Thursday Abdul Khaliq Achakzai as speaker of the Balochistan Assembly and annulled the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) suspension order.

The electoral watchdog suspended the notification of Achakzai’s success as speaker and ordered re-polling at the request of opposition candidate Asghar Khan Achakzai.

Read ECP restores victory notifications of PML-N candidates from Islamabad

The decision came amid allegations of irregularities and rigging during the electoral process. The PML-N leader later challenged the ECP’s decision in the apex court.

Achakzai had emerged victorious from the constituency with 20,390 votes, securing victory over his opponent Asghar Achakzai of the ANP, who bagged 19,623 votes.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan presided over the case today and sent the matter back to the ECP with the consent of the candidates.