QUETTA, July 27: The Balochistan High Court has declared the election of provincial Health Minister Hafiz Hamdullah void, accepting a writ petition against his election from PB-9 Qila Abdullah-1 and ordered re-election. A division bench of the Balochistan High Court, comprising Chief Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani, announced the judgment after completing hearing of the petition on Wednesday.

Mr Hamdullah has said that he will challenge the verdict of the BHC in the apex court. He can file a petition in the Supreme Court against the decision within 30 days. The petition against Mr Hamdullah of JUI-F was filed by Haji Saifullah Khan Achakzai, a resident of Chaman. The writ pleaded that Hafiz Hamdullah was a school teacher and he contested election on PB-9 Qila Abdullah-1 before completing two years after his resignation from the government service that was mandatory for taking part in the election.

He further submitted that Mr Hamdullah violated the law taking part in the election without fulfilling the condition in this regard. He requested the learned court to declare the election of Hafiz Hamdullah void.