LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday admitted for hearing a petition filed by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq whereby he challenged an election tribunal decision pertaining to vote recount in NA-122 constituency and accused tribunal judge Justice Kazim Ali Malik of committing contempt of court.

Sadiq said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's appeal for vote recount was illegal and requested the LHC to reject his plea.

The NA speaker, in his petition, also said the order for vote recount was against the Supreme Court's directives and alleged the tribunal judge of committing contempt.

Last week, an election tribunal had accepted Khan's request for opening ballot bags in NA-122 to investigate allegations of rigging.

Earlier, Sadiq had filed an appeal with the tribunal against opening of the ballot bags which was rejected by Justice Kazim. A single-member commission had also been ordered to check the records after opening the ballot bags in NA-122.

NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the PTI had sought a recount and verification of voters’ thumb impressions. Sadiq had defeated Khan in the 2013 general elections and the PTI had challenged the results.

Returning officer calls Imran Khan, Ayaz Sadiq for verification process

After meeting with District Election Commissioner Shabbar Raza, Returning Officer Shahida Saeed of the NA-122 constituency issued notices to Imran Khan and Ayaz Sadiq to reach the office of the deputy commissioner at 9am on Tuesday (tomorrow).

In the presence of both the leaders, process of verification of ballot bags would begin, the notice said. Due to the absence of assistant returning officer, the process was delayed and could not be initiated today.

Take a look: Election tribunal orders opening of ballot bags in NA-122