Senate by-election for Balochistan seat scheduled for October 18

Rind files nomination for seat after Sindh Court ruled against BHC's verdict.

BALOCHISTAN: Two out of seven candidates for a senate seat from Balochistan have withdrawn their nomination papers for the upcoming by-polls. Polling for the seat is scheduled for October 18, Express 24/7 reported Wednesday.

The seat fell vacant after the Balochistan High Court (BHC) disqualified Mir Muhammad Rind in August this year for concealing information at the time of contesting the 2009 senate elections. He had concealed that he was convicted of corruption and misappropriation by an accountability court.

Rind has filed a nomination for the seat again after the Sindh Court ruled against the BHC’s verdict and allowed him to contest the polls.

Earlier, Rind had evaded court notices for two years and had appeared before the BHC in July this year. After the high court’s decision, Rind filed a review appeal in the Supreme Court against his dis­­qualification.

On September 19, the apex court had observed that a person stands automatically disqualified once he has been awarded punishment by a court.