PESHAWAR, Jan 30: The Election Tribunal on Monday adjourned hearing in Salim Saifullah’s election petition till February 3. The petitioner is seeking to declare him as a successful candidate to PF-75 Lakki Marwat following disqualification of Malik Imran on the ground of his fake bachelor degree.

The Election Tribunal, presided over by Justice Salim Khan of the Peshawar High Court, adjourned the case after hearing arguments of the petitioner’s and defence counsels.

Advocate Naved Maqsood appeared for unseated MPA Malik Imran and submitted that he filed an application for the restoration of his election petition which was dismissed by the Supreme Court, adding, the Apex Court had already restored the application in its original number.

He prayed before the court to adjourn the case till the final judgment of the Supreme Court.

Advocate Sardar Khan appeared for petitioner Salim Saifullah Khan and contended that the Peshawar High Court had disqualified Malik Imran on the ground of his fake bachelor degree after he failed to prove his case. He argued that the judgment of the Peshawar High Court was later upheld by the Supreme Court. He prayed before the court to allow his appeal.

It may be recalled that the unseated MPA has filed an appeal against the judgment of the PHC, which was dismissed by the Apex Court due to non-prosecution. PML leader Salim Saifullah contested the general election from PF-75 Lakki Marwat against Malik Imran and lost in 2002. Later, he moved an application in the PHC seeking himself as returned candidate.—APP