KARACHI, May 30: An election tribunal, comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani of the Sindh High Court, dismissed on Friday a petition filed by Syed Munawar Hasan, secretary-general of Jamaat-i-Islami and an MMA candidate, against the election of Kunwar Khalid Younus from NA-245.

Justice Rabbani observed that the petitioner had failed to appear on a number of successive dates to pursue his case.

The respondent MNA had filed his reply but the tribunal could not proceed in the petitioner’s absence and had no option but to dismiss his plea.

The tribunal, meanwhile, concluded hearing of two other election petitions in respect of NA-256 and PS-119.

MMA’s Mohammad Hashim Siddiqui and Haleem Khan Ghauri have challenged the election of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Iqbal Mohammad Khan and Mohammad Abbas Jafferi from the two seats.

The petition moved by PPP’s Abdul Latif Shah against the election of Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Maher as MPA from a Ghotki seat was adjourned to June 6 for a further hearing.

The petitioner alleged that Mr Maher was not a graduate at the time of filing his nomination papers. Mr Maher submitted that the allegation was false and that his papers were duly scrutinized and found in order by the Election Commission.

The petitioner was allowed to file a rejoinder by June 6.