Ex-speaker moves SC against tribunal verdict

Sadiq submits appeal consisting 3,265 pages. Asks apex court to suspend fine imposed on him

LAHORE: Former speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq challenged the election tribunal's verdict against him in the Lahore Registry of the Supreme Court.

Election tribunal judge Kazim Ali Malik on August 22 had de-seated Ayaz Sadiq after nullifying his election from NA-122 and directed Election Commission of Pakistan to hold re-election in the constituency.

Ayaz Sadiq had defeated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the May 2013 general elections from NA-122 constituency after which Imran Khan had challenged Ayaz's victory.

The tribunal also asked Ayaz Sadiq to pay Imran Khan Rs27,00,000 in damages.

Sadiq in his appeal consisting of 3,265 pages sought direction from the apex court to declare the verdict illegal and order suspension of the fine imposed on him.

The ex-speaker stated that he was not heard during the course of proceedings. He contended that every petition they filed during the proceedings of NA-122 was kept pending by the tribunal and those petitions were not discussed in the detailed judgment. The election could not be declared null and void upon the basis of electoral irregularities, he said in the plea.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2015.