PESHAWAR, Feb 13: The election tribunal has adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by Salim Saifullah Khan till Feb 24. Mr Khan filed the petition after the superior judiciary disqualified Malik Imran, who won an assembly seat from the PF-75 Lakki Marwat constituency in the 2002 election, on the grounds that his bachelors degree was bogus.

The tribunal presided over by Justice Salim Khan directed fixation of the petition soon after the motion cases in the next hearing so that the counsel of unseated MPA Malik Imran could complete his arguments.

When Justice Salim Khan asked Naveed Maqsood advocate, appearing for Malik Imran, to submit arguments he said that he could not complete his arguments because of shortage of time. The tribunal had earlier directed the petitioner’s counsel to ensure his client attended the next hearing.

The counsel pointed out that the Peshawar High Court had disqualified Malik Imran on the grounds that his bachelors degree was fake and the Supreme Court had later upheld the ruling.

He said that the Election Commission had earlier announced Feb 15 for the general election to PF-75 Lakki Marwat which was extended up to March 16 due to trial of the case.—APP