KARACHI, June 17: An election tribunal, on Tuesday, dismissed a petition filed by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Intikhab Alam Soori, against the election of Ms Rehana Nasreen of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, from the Sindh assembly constituency, PS-105 (Karachi).

Justice Zawwar Hussain Jaffery of the Sindh High Court, who constituted the tribunal, observed in his order that the petitioner had failed to furnish particulars of any corrupt or illegal practice, alleged to have vitiated the polls. Not a single instance of any irregularity was brought to the notice of election staff. The SHO of Jauharabad and DSP, Zarar Khan, were at hand to register complaints but no incident was reported to them.

The petitioner failed to produce his own polling agent/s to substantiate the allegations. The tribunal held that an election petition must disclose full particulars of the illegalities and irregularities alleged. Failure to state particulars and adduce evidence, amounted to non-compliance with the provisions of Section 55 (b) of the Representation of People Act, 1976, and was fatal to the petitioner’s case. The petition was accordingly dismissed as not maintainable.

Another petition moved by Syed Mohammad Shah against the election of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Marvi Mazhar, was adjourned to June 23 for recording of evidence.

Another tribunal comprising Justice Moosa K. Leghari, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing of a petition moved by MQM’s Mrs Nasreen, against MMA’s Abdus Sattar Afghani, from NA-250 (Karachi), to June 19 at the petitioner’s request. Provincial Revenue Minister Altaf Hussain Unnar was given last opportunity to pursue his petition against the election of an MMA candidate from NA-205 (Larkana).

The minister had bagged a provincial seat while losing a national constituency in the October 2002 polls. His petition would be dismissed for non-prosecution if he failed to appear on June 19. The tribunal, comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani, adjourned a petition against the election of Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Maher, from PS-6 (Ghotki), to June 27, for final arguments. PPP’s Altaf Shah has alleged that Mr Maher was not a graduate at the time of filing his nomination papers.