ECP restores Khawaja Saad Rafique National Assembly membership

Rafique’s victory was termed invalid by the election tribunal, but supreme court had suspended the verdict

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday issued a notification recalling its earlier notification that annulled Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique’s membership in the National Assembly from NA-125.

Read: Hours after being de-seated, Khawaja Saad Rafique challenges tribunal verdict in SC

Rafique’s victory from NA-125 was termed invalid by an election tribunal on May 4 after the panel found irregularities in the records of election material for the constituency. A re-poll was also ordered within 60 days of the verdict announcement.

Read: Against tribunal’s decision: Unseated lawmaker moves top court

Rafique had later moved the Supreme Court to challenge the tribunal’s verdict, seeking cancellation of the tribunal’s order. The Supreme Court on May 11 suspended the verdict after admitting an appeal for a preliminary hearing.

Read: Election row: Saad Rafique back in saddle – for now

The ECP also issued a notification recalling its earlier notification that annulled PML-N’s Mian Naseer Ahmed’s membership of Punjab Assembly for PP-155.

Read: Irregularities in NA-125: Tribunal orders re-election in 60 days

On May 4, the tribunal had also ordered re-election on Punjab Assembly constituency PP-155, which PML-N’s Mian Naseer Ahmed had won in the 2013 general elections, upon PTI’s Hafiz Farhat Abbas’s petition. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court later restored Mian Naseer Ahmed as Punjab Assembly MPA for PP-155.