High court dismisses chief minister’s plea against tribunal

SHC has suspended tribunal proceedings to allow appeals to the SC.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed three petitions on Monday, including that of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, against the election tribunal’s order for verification of votes cast in three different constituencies of the province.

However, the court stayed the tribunal proceedings on Friday on three separate petitions — one filed by the chief minister, one by Roshan Din Junejo and another 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 chief minister had gone to court against the order passed by the tribunal that directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to verify the votes polled in NA-215 and PS-29 constituencies of Khairpur.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Syed Ghous Ali Shah had lost elections on both the seats to the PPP candidates. Ghous had alleged that his rival candidates had carried out 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 senate chairperson 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. The bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, also directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to submit comments and adjourned the hearing of the case till January 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2014.