Lack of evidence: Tribunal dismisses Jatoi's plea challenging results on NA seats

KARACHI: The election tribunal dismissed on Monday the election petitions of the Jatoi's challenging the results of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates on two National Assembly seats, NA-232 and NA-233, from their hometown of district Dadu due to 'lack of evidence'.

Former chief minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi had challenged the election of his rival, Imran Zafar Leghari, from NA-233. He claimed that Leghari rigged the polls using state machinery in Maher and Khairpur-Nathanshah talukas of the district.

His son, Karim Ali Jatoi, challenged the election of his rival, Rafique Ahmed Jamali, from NA-232 constituency, claiming that Jamali used state machinery and rigged the polls in Jahi and Dadu talukas.

Former Sindh High Court judge Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani, who was heading the tribunal, noted that the petitioners, Liaquat Jatoi and Karim Jatoi, have failed to prove their allegations through tangible and legal evidence as required under the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Ordinance 1984, which has been made applicable for the trial of an election petition through Section 62(2) of the Representation of Peoples Act 1976. It dismissed both the petitions with cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2014.