Plea against tribunal’s edict: Top court suspends ECP’s notification on Ludhianvi

Court issues notices to all respondents and decides to dispose the case within three months.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification that declared Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader Maulana Ahmad Ludhianvi as the winning candidate from NA-89 (Jhang).

A three-judge bench of the apex court – headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali – issued the order on a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Sheikh Muhammad Akram.

Akram had appealed against the order of an election tribunal which on April 9 had disqualified him and declared Ludhianvi winner from the same constituency. The court, while suspending the election tribunal’s order, also issued notices to all respondents and decided to dispose of this case within three months.

In the May 2013 general elections, Sheikh Akram had secured 75,053 votes and was declared as Returned Candidate and the notification in this regard was issued by the ECP on May 22, 2013.

Later on, Maulana Ludhianvi filed a petition against Akram before the ECP, alleging pre-poll, during poll, post poll rigging and illegal and corrupt practices.

The ECP sent Ludhianvi’s election petition to the election tribunal Faisalabad for trial in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1976.

The arguments were heard by the election tribunal on March 12, 2014 and the case was adjourned to different dates including March 19, 25 and April 2. Finally the judgment was announced on April 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.