GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court restored the GB Assembly membership of PTI general secretary Fathullah Khan on Saturday.

Chief Judge of GB Supreme Appellate Court Justice Sardar Moham­mad Shamim Khan set aside GB election tribunal’s decision to declare PPP leader Jamil Ahmed as returned candidate from Gilgit-2 constituency and referred back the matter to GB election tribunal for fresh decision with observations and objections. Also, the court directed the GB election commission to issue a notification of the restoration of Mr Khan’s membership.

On August 18, the GB election tribunal had declared PPP candidate for Gilgit-2 constituency winner to represent the next half tenure of the assembly after suspending GB Assembly membership of PTI member leader and former minister for planning Fathullah Khan.

In the November 2020 GB elections, the election commission declared PTI leader Fathullah winner in the Gilgit-2 constituency. Following his victory, he was assigned the portfolios of planning, development and information minister.

Former minister’s membership was cancelled on poll rigging allegation

However, the PPP candidate for the same constituency, Jamil Ahmed, challenged Mr Fathullah’s victory in the election tribunal in January 2021. He alleged rigging in the counting of votes in favour of the PTI candidate.

The GB election tribunal judge noted that the general votes for both candidates were equal, and the issue of postal votes remained unresolved.

Subsequently, Mr Fath­ullah challenged the election tribunal’s decision in the GB Supreme Appellate Court in August.

He argued that around 1,700 of his postal votes had not been counted, and the election tribunal’s decision was based solely on general votes. After a detailed hearing, Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court, Justice Shamim issued the verdict on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2023