February 24, 2007	Saturday	Safar 6, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: An Election Tribunal comprising a senior judge of Lahore High Court (Rawalpindi Bench) on Friday heard a petition in which the participation of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the by-elections of 2004 has been challenged.

The petition was filed by Jamil Ahmad Malik, chairman of the Communist Party of Pakistan and the candidate challenging Shaukat Aziz in the 2004 in the by-elections for NA-57 (Attock). The incumbent Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz won the elections and made it to the office of premiership.

Mr Malik, who personally pleaded the case, argued before the court that Shaukat Aziz had been hired to head the country’s top executive post despite being a US citizen, adding that he was not a Pakistani citizen.

Challenging Mr Aziz’s eligibility to contest the by-elections, he argued that he was fielded as a candidate in the by-elections in clear violation of electoral laws. He said that the government had used its influence and official machinery, enabling him to win the by-elections.

Jamil Malik contended that expenses incurred on Mr Aziz’s election campaign were far in excess of limit set by the constitution, ensuring his victory. He requested the court to disqualify Mr Aziz by declaring him ineligible to contest the elections. He informed the court that he had prepared a 700-page dossier in which he had pointed out all elections laws violations and other illegalities, adding that the document had also been sent to Mr Aziz.

Stressing the need to take into account the urgency of the matter, he requested the court to decide the matter in a week.

Waseem Sajjad, leader of the House in the Senate, appeared on behalf of the prime minister. Defending Mr Aziz, he said that the petition was not maintainable as it had not been filed in accordance with the electoral laws.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the learned judge Justice Syed Zahid Hussain observed that the court would hear the case daily from Feb 27.