ISLAMABAD: An additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) on Thursday summoned son of former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and two PTI’s lawmakers for framing charges against former for bribing the latter in Senate Elections.

The court has decided to indict them on May 31.

ADSJ Umeed Ali Baloch resumed hearing on the case filed under Elections Act 2017 against Ali Haider Gillani and two former PTI’s lawmakers Faheem Khan and Jameel Ahmed.

The above complaint was filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Following the Senate elections on March 3, 2021, PTI lawmakers Farrukh Habib, Maleeka Bokhari and Kanwal Shauzab had filed a petition in the ECP, asking it not to issue notification of Gilani’s victory.

The petition was filed on the basis of a leaked audio clip, purportedly of Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah bargaining with four PTI lawmakers for their votes in the Senate elections and a video of Ali in which he appears to be showing some techniques to PTI MNAs to waste their votes.

In its order, the Election Commission stated that it had been “proved” that Ali, Faheem and Jamil had indulged in corrupt practices, adding the punishment under Sections 167 and 168 could be up to three years in jail or a fine of Rs100,000 or both.

In the video that went viral on social media, Ali was allegedly instructing PTI lawmakers to waste their votes.

Ali admitted to his conversation with the PTI lawmakers, but said he was just responding to their question as to what to do if the votes were made traceable by a barcode. He, however, said he had made no attempt to “buy” votes.

Yousuf Raza Gillani defended his son, saying they were seeking votes from all MNAs as they formed the electoral college for the Senate elections. He said he had also contacted the then prime minister Imran Khan in this connection.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2023