Post-election differences: SHC stays tribunal proceedings in voters’ verification case

One petition was filed by Sindh chief minister, the other by PPP MNA Nawab Ali Wasan.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) stayed the proceedings before the Karachi Election Tribunal regarding bogus voting on two seats, including PS-29 won by the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The court stayed the tribunal proceedings on Friday on two separate petitions — one filed by the chief minister and the other by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA, Nawab Ali Wasan - challenging an order of the election tribunal. Shah had emerged victorious on PS-29 while Wasan had bagged the National Assembly seat (NA-215) in Khairpur.

The bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, also directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit comments and adjourned the hearing of the case till January 20, 2014.

The chief minister had gone to court against the order passed by the tribunal that directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to conduct verification of votes polled in NA-215 and PS-29 constituencies of Khairpur.

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz’s (PML-N) Syed Ghous Ali Shah had lost elections on both seats to the PPP candidates. Ghous had alleged that his rival candidates had carried out massive rigging in the polls and asked the tribunal to order verification of thumb impressions on the ballots. He had also accused them of using the state machinery to secure their victory. Subsequently, the tribunal had ordered verification of votes through Nadra.

Former chairperson of the Senate of Pakistan, advocate Farooq H Naik, on behalf of the petitioners, said that the election tribunal had allowed the rival’s plea for voters’ verification by ignoring legal provisions.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2013.