MULTAN: The election tribunal judge on Tuesday reserved a decision on an appeal challenging the victory of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar after the counsel for both parties completed their arguments.

Muhammad Akram Khan Malghani, a resident of Taunsa Sharif, filed a petition through his counsel Advocate Sheikh Jamshed Hayat while stating that he contested the election for PP-286, Dera Ghazi Khan, as an independent candidate against Buzdar of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

He said Buzdar mentioned the value of his assets less than the actual amount of the assets while filing his nomination papers. He stated that on July 28, 2018, prior to the consolidation of the results he moved an application for the recount but the returning officer rejected it for being time barred and the notification of the returned candidate was issued on Aug 7.

He stated that he requested the court to declare him a returned candidate and Buzdar’s election illegal for misdeclaration of assets.

The returning officer did not take into consideration the provisions of the Election Act 2017 with mala fide intention and dismissed his application for recount, he alleged.

The petitioner’s polling agents were not allowed to come in the territory of Tuman Buzdar where two polling stations of the constituency were established and the results were tampered with by the polling staff.

Tribunal Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed reserved the decision.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2019