LAHORE, Aug 29: The LHC on Monday declined to entertain a petition raising an election dispute observing that such grievances should now be agitated with an election tribunal.

The court observed that the local elections process was over with the conduct of polling and such a dispute could no longer be raised through writ petitions which could only be entertained before the election was held. It held that matters pertaining to polls should now be agitated through petition moved to election tribunals which were being established under rule 65 of the Punjab Local Government Ord.

Mushtaq Ali of Batapur, who contested as naib nazim from UC-50 (Bhaseen), challenged the election of Chaudhry Mushtaq Javed as nazim on rigging grounds. He submitted in his petition that the nazim and his supporters allegedly obtained vote at gunpoint and other intimidatory tactics. He sought the LHC to hold the election as null and void. — Correspondent