March 06, 2008	Thursday	Safar 27 ,1429

LAHORE, March 5: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to review the allegations of rigging in NA-116, Narowal, levelled by National Reconstruction Bureau Chairman Daniyal Aziz against his rivals.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the ECP, Aziz had moved the high court for an inquiry into allegations of rigging in his constituency. The bench consisting of Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Justice MA Zafar Chaudhry sent the case back to the ECP for reconsideration.In his petition, Aziz said that on the polling day the supporters of the returned candidate Tariq Anees caused a lot of "disturbance" at over 30 polling stations. "One of my supporters was killed and even I was injured," he added. He said his opponents forcibly took away ballot boxes from 30 polling stations to manipulate the election results.

The petitioner said he had moved the Narowal district returning officer (DRO), narrating all malpractices done by his rival on the polling day. The DRO after examining the allegations, recommended to the ECP not to notify the success of his rival candidate without holding an inquiry into the allegations raised by him. Daniyal said the ECP without considering his application and recommendation of the DRO, announced the result and declared independent candidate Tariq Anees successful. He had prayed the court to direct the ECP to order inquiry on his application and then announce the results.

Another bench consisting of Justice Mian Najamuz Zaman and Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq directed the petitioner, Muhammad Azam Chela, a candidate for PP-82, Jhang, to personally appear on March 12.

Azam Chela alleged that his opponents rigged the elections and requested that directions should be issued for polling afresh. The bench on February 16 had already restrained the ECP to announce the final results on this Punjab Assembly seat.

Zardari: Additional District and Sessions Judge Ijaz Husain Awan on Wednesday exempted PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari from appearing in person in a drug case registered against him in 1998.

Zardari's counsel Khurram Latif Khosa advocate informed the court that his client would not be able to appear before the court because being the head of country's major political party he was busy in Islamabad in the formation of the upcoming government.

The counsel said the drug case against Mr Zardari was nothing but political victimisation and a former prime minister, who signed the Charter of Democracy, had also admitted that the cases registered against his client was based on political rivalry.

“PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had also supported that version,” the counsel said.

The court after accepting the exemption application of Asif Ali Zardari adjourned the hearing till March 27.

Talking to reporters outside the courtroom, Mr Khosa said on the next date of hearing he would file an application, asking the court to drop all charges against his client.

The FIR in the drug case against Mr Asif Ali Zardari was lodged when he was in police custody in connection with other cases against him.

In 1998, Qila Gujjar Singh police had arrested one Arif Baloch who during custody made a confessional statement that Zardari used to provide them drugs for sale.

When Zardari was abroad the court had twice issued his non-bailable warrants and had directed the police to arrest the accused and produce him.

The court had also issued a show cause notice to the guarantor of Mr Zardari, directing him to make necessary arrangements for the appearance of the accused before the court, warning him that otherwise his surety bond would be forfeited by the state.

One co-accused in the case, Showrang Khan, died on May 20, 2005.