To be announced: Election petitions’ judgement reserved

Bench informs that there were no thumb impressions on some votes and that fake votes had been polled.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday reserved its decision over the election petitions against MNAs Haider Hoti and Sahibzada Yaqoob, and Senator Hilal Rehman. The runner-up candidate of NA-9 Mardan, Nasir Khan, had filed a case with the election tribunal, challenging the victory of Haider Hoti. The bench was informed that there were no thumb impressions on some votes and that fake votes had been polled, while some other election papers were not signed. The petitioners said the tribunal should be directed to verify the actual position of votes and then issue a verdict. The victory of Sahibzada Yaqoob, elected from NA-34 Lower Dir, was challenged by Bashir Khan, while Senator Hilal Rehman’s victory in the 2012 senate elections was also challenged. After hearing arguments from the petitioners’ counsels, the court reserved its decision to be announced later.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2014.