LAHORE: As the process to file appeals against the successful candidates in the general elections has begun, PTI-backed independent candidate Zaheer Abbas Khokhar on Thursday filed an election petition in the Lahore High Court against the victory of Federal Minister for Information Attaulah Tarar from NA-127.

Khokhar lost his election to Tarar with a margin of 15,980 votes as the latter bagged 98210 votes against 82230 of the former.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also contested the election from the same constituency, however, he stood third with 15,005 votes.

Khokhar alleged that the federal minister rigged the election to secure victory. He asked the tribunal to set aside the victory notification of the respondent and declare him (the petitioner) returned candidate.

Similarly, independent candidate Zamirul Hassan Bhatti filed an election petition against the victory of Gulzar Ahmad of the PML-N from PP-38, Hafizabad; Barjees Tahir of the PML-N against Arshad Sahi (independent) from NA-111, Nankana Sahib; Ajmal Sabir Raja against Qamarul Islam Raja of the PML-N from NA-53, Rawalpindi; Muhammad Khalid against Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh of the PML-N from NA-94, Chiniot; and independent candidate Yasir Gilani against Samiullah Khan of the PML-N from PP-145, Lahore.

An election tribunal, comprising Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmed of the LHC, will hear the petitions.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024