KARACHI: An election tribunal on Friday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other respondents in a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Khurram Sher Zaman, impugning the victory of a Pakistan Peoples Party candidate on the National Assembly constituency NA-241 in the metropolis.

Led by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry of the Sindh High Court (SHC), the tribunal asked the ECP, returning officer (RO), returned candidate Mirza Ikhtiar Baig of the PPP and others as well as the federal and provincial law officers to file comments till April 19.

Submitting that he had contested the Feb 8 general elections as independent candidate from NA-241 (Karachi South-III) after his party lost its electoral symbol, the petitioner asked the tribunal to set aside the impugned result/notification and declare him as returned candidate.

He contended that as per Form-45s, obtained by his polling agents from the presiding officers at all the polling stations of the constituency, he had secured 79,530 votes and Mr Baig could get only 20,303 votes.

However, the petitioner alleged that the respondents robbed him of 30,920 votes as his votes were brought down to 48,610 and those of the PPP’s aspirant increased by 32,153 votes through tampering and forgery, declaring him the winner with total votes of 52,456.

Meanwhile, the same tribunal on Friday issued notices to the election watchdog and others for April 19, in an identical petition filed by another PTI-backed candidate.

Fauzia Siddiqui contended that she had run in the election from PS-125 (Karachi Central-IV) and as per Form-45s, she got the highest votes.

However, the petitioner alleged that the elections were rigged and Adil Askari of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan was declared successful with over 63,800 votes and her votes were reduced to around 39,500 votes.

Notice issued to Saeed Ghani

Another election tribunal on Friday put the ECP, Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani and others on notice in an election petition filed by Grand Democratic Alliance’s candidate Irfanullah Marwat, challenging the result of a provincial assembly seat.

The tribunal headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha of the SHC also issued notices to the advocate general of Sindh and deputy attorney general, directing them assist the tribunal on the question of maintainability of a petition as well as terms of electoral laws.

It also issued notice to Mr Ghani, returned candidate from PS-105 (Karachi East-IX), through the Sindh Assembly speaker for May 10.

Marwat submitted that he had run in the elections from PS-105 (Karachi East-IX) and alleged that the process in several polling stations were rigged by rival Pakistan People Party candidate Saeed Ghani as the results of those polling stations showed that 90 per cent of votes were cast there.

According to Form-47 issued by the ECP, Mr Ghani secured 26,168 votes and Mr Marwat stood as runner-up with 20,111 votes.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2024