LAHORE: An election tribunal in Lahore on Monday rejected the application of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart Imtiaz Safdar Warriach challenging the results of NA-98 constituency.

In his application, former PPP Punjab President Warriach had alleged that Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Tariq Mahmood, who had emerged victorious in the said constituency during the May 2013 general elections, possesses a fake degree and had won the seat through rigging and malpractices.

He requested the tribunal to disqualify Mahmood and order a re-election in the constituency.

The tribunal declared that the petitioner could not present substantial proof before the court with regards to Mahmood's fake degree and allegations of poll rigging.

Meanwhile, Warraich's counsel Salman Mansoor said that they rejected the tribunal's decision and would challenge it in the Supreme Court.

NA-98 is Warraich's home constituency from where he had been elected twice as an MNA in 2002 and 2008.

Following the May 2013 general elections, Warraich had challenged Mahmood's victory in an election tribunal. In a responsive move, Mahmood had moved the Lahore High Court against the hearing of the case in the tribunal and had obtained a stay order.

It may be recalled that last year in December, the SC had come up with an authoritative ruling suggesting that high courts should not entertain interim orders of tribunals on post-election disputes.

Take a look: SC asks high courts not to intervene in proceedings of election tribunals