March 01, 2007	Thursday	Safar 11, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Mr Justice Syed Zahid Hussain of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in a case in which the election of Mr Shaukat Aziz and his premiership has been challenged.

The petition was filed by Engineer Jamil Ahmad Malik, Chairman of the Communist Party of Pakistan and a rival candidate of Mr Aziz in the by-election in NA-59, Attock-3, held in 2004.

Mr Malik personally pleaded his case whereas Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was represented by Mr Waseem Sajjad, Leader of the House in Senate.

Mr Sajjad raised four points before the court and questioned the maintainability of the writ.

He argued that the election petition and annexures were not properly verified, signed and attested. The attestation, he said, was conditional. Copies of the annexures and video about corrupt practices, use of unfair means and use of violations had not been provided to the respondent which, he said, was necessary.

Responding to these points, Mr Malik said that the election petition and annexures had been properly verified, signed and attested. Everything, he said, was in accordance with law. The verification and attestation were not conditional, he argued, adding that the person who had verified them was a competent authority. About the video, Mr Malik said it was prepared in front of him. The 743-page petition, a copy of election petition, affidavit, list of witnesses, affidavits of witnesses along with all annexures had been sent to Mr Aziz in time, he said.

Mr Malik further submitted that according to laws not more than Rs1.5 million could be spent on electioneering but, he asserted, about Rs30 million had been spent on the election campaign of the prime minister. He claimed that Mr Aziz showed only one million rupees w hat according to laws not more than Rs1.5 million could be spent on electioneering but, he assertedhile the remaining amount had been concealed.

He further said that Mr Aziz had arranged about 65 public gatherings in connection with his election campaign despite the fact that he did not live in the area. He further said that advertisements were run in national dailies, posters and large-scale banners were used which, he claimed, was in total violation of the elections laws.

Mr Malik pleaded to the court that keeping in view the violations, the tribunal should immediately suspend Mr Aziz’s membership of the National Assembly.

Both sides concluded their arguments on Wednesday and the judge reserved the verdict, saying it would be announced on March 16 in the Lahore High Court.