March 05, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 26, 1429

PESHAWAR, March 4: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday dismissed six writ petitions filed by the losing candidates of National and provincial assemblies and directed the petitioners to approach the election tribunals in that regard.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Said Maroof Khan and Justice Muhammad Alam Khan observed that the chief election commissioner had already established election tribunals for hearing election disputes and it would be appropriate for the candidates to move that forum.

In five of the petitions the petitioners were seeking recounting of the votes, whereas in one of the petitions the petitioner was seeking disqualification of the winning candidate.

Two of the petitions were filed by the losing candidates Aurangzeb Khan and Shoukat Habib, respectively, against the winning candidate from PF-37 Kohat, Amjid Afridi, who joined the ANP after his election as independent candidate.

Both the petitioners requested the court to order recounting of votes. The bench dismissed the petitions after hearing the two petitioners.

Another petition was filed by Maulana Mian Hussain Jalali of MMA against Syed Haider Ali Shah of ANP who was declared successful from NA-16 Hangu. Advocate Jawed A. Khan appeared for the petitioner and contended that Mr Haider had received 22,180 votes whereas the petitioner got 19,513 votes.

He alleged that the petitioner had polled bogus votes and requested that recounting may be order by the court.