LAHORE: An election tribunal on Saturday adjourned till June 30 hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan challenging victory of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq from NA-122, Lahore.

Barrister Asjad Saeed, the speaker’s counsel, was advancing his arguments against the maintainability of the petition when the tribunal put off the hearing.

The counsel argued that it was a case of no evidence. He said Mr Khan had claimed that his polling agent Shoaib Siddiqui told him about the alleged rigging committed on the election day. However, he said, the PTI chief did not produce Mr Siddiqui before the tribunal as a witness.

The counsel said the petitioner (Khan) filed unverified affidavits of his witnesses, which exposed the authenticity of the allegations. He said inspection reports of Nadra and local commission also rejected the allegations of rigging in the constituency.

The tribunal would resume hearing on June 30.

Imran Khan’s counsel had already completed his arguments in the case.

RESERVED:The tribunal reserved verdict on a petition of PPP leader Imtiaz Safdar Warraich challenging election of PML-N MNA Tariq Mahmood from NA-98, Gujranwala.

Counsel for both sides concluded their arguments.

The petitioner alleged that Tariq Mahmood possessed a fake degree of graduation. He asked the tribunal to disqualify the respondent MNA and order a re-election in the constituency.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2015

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