ISLAMABAD: The counsel representing chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani on Tuesday sought time to file reply to the petition seeking annulment of his victory as Senate chairman.

Senator Syed Ali Zafar appeared before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on behalf of Mr Sanjrani.

IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri was hearing the intra court appeal filed against the dismissal of petition against rejection of seven votes.

IHC single member bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah earlier dismissed the petition filed by former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani against rejection of seven votes which were polled in his favor but were rejected since the voters stamped his name instead of blank space.

Gillani was seeking court’s direction to set aside the decision of Presiding Officer who conducted the election for the seat of chairman Senate.

The ex premier cited Sanjrani, presiding officer for the election of chairman Senate Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah and Senate secretariat as respondents.

Gillani’s counsel advocate Farooq H Naek argued before the IHC that ex-premier was the joint candidate of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) which had the greatest numerical strength in the senate viz 51 members as opposed to the government alliances of 47 members.

He said President Dr Arif Alvi on March 11nominated Shah as presiding officer who is a controversial figure being a member of Grand Democratic Alliance.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021