PESHAWAR: An election tribunal here on Tuesday disqualified MNA from Khyber Agency Nasir Khan Afridi and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct re-election in NA-46. Presiding officer of the tribunal, Yahya Zahid Gilani, accepted an election petition filed by former federal minister and losing candidate in the general election, Hamidullah Jan Afridi, seeking disqualification of Mr Nasir on different grounds and re-election in NA-46 (Tribal Area IX).

The tribunal, however, dismissed an election petition filed by a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Iqbal Afridi, seeking vote recount. The tribunal had a few days ago reserved its judgments on both the petitions after completion of arguments by all the parties, and pronounced a short order on Tuesday.

Mr Nasir was declared returned candidate from NA-46 as he had received 4,135 votes against 3,579 and 3,342 votes of Mr Iqbal and Mr Hamidullah, respectively.

The petitioner, Mr Hamidullah, had levelled several allegations against Mr Nasir, including that of bogus polling, rigging and concealment of assets in the nomination papers.

The petitioner had claimed that Mr Nasir had not mentioned several of his properties in the nomination papers. He stated that concealment of properties was a misstatement which amounted to corrupt practices under Section 78 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1976.

The petitioner alleged that the election officers concerned had acted in collusion with Mr Nasir and he was provided the voters lists several days before the elections whereas the petitioner was provided the same only a day before the May 11, 2013 general elections. He added that the armed supporters of Mr Nasir had beaten his polling agents and forced them to leave polling stations.

During general elections the polling was stopped at different polling stations on May 11 due to clashes between supporters of different candidates and subsequently re-polling was held in 21 of the polling stations on June 5.