May 19, 2006	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1427

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PESHAWAR, May 18: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday adjourned hearing on a writ petition challenging the election of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s MNA Maulana Amanullah Khan on the basis of a seminary sanad.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijazul Hassan and Justice Fazlur Rehman Khan observed that a case of the same nature had been pending before the Supreme Court. It said the case would be fixed after the apex court announced a judgement on the issue.

The petition has been filed by Haji Muhammad Nawaz, a voter from the Lakki Marwat constituency NA-27, from where Maulana Khan got elected by defeating former federal minister Anwer Saifullah Khan.

The petitioner contended that the sanad (certificate) of Shahadat-i-Alamia fil Uloom-i-Arabia wal Islamia possessed by the MNA was not equivalent to graduation, which was a pre-condition for contesting elections in 2002.

The petition was admitted by the high court to full hearing on Nov 6, 2003.

Advocate M. Sardar Khan appeared for the petitioner. Farmanullah Khattak represented Maulana Amanullah and Muhammad Habib Qureshi spoke for the other respondent, Anwer Saifullah Khan.

Mr Khattak informed the court that the apex court had not given verdict on such cases yet.

The bench observed that it would be better to adjourn the case indefinitely.