GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Tribunal on Saturday admitted for hearing petitions seeking to declare null and void the election of five ruling PTI members, including the chief minister and a technocrat, over use of corrupt practices and illegal means during the polls.

The Election Tribunal Judge Ali Baig set May 21 for regular hearing of the petitions.

The petitions have been filed against Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan, law minister Sohail Abbas, health minister Gulber Khan, local bodies minister Abdul Hameed Khan and technocrat Fazal Rahim, according to a press release issued by the Chief Court on Saturday.

The petitioners alleged that the respondents used illegal means to win the polls in their respective constituencies, which was a violation of the Election Act, 2017.

Meanwhile, Hashmatullah Khan, a candidate for a technocrat seat in the GB Assembly, has challenged the election of his rival Fazal Rahim.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2021