LAHORE: An election tribunal comprising Lahore High Court judge Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad on Thursday dismissed an election petition challenging the victory of PML-N MNA Saiful Malook Khokhar from NA-126, Lahore, for being not maintainable.

PTI-backed independent candidate Malik Tauqeer Abbas Khokhar had challenged Saiful Malook’s success from the National Assembly constituency.

The petitioner pleaded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared the PML-N candidate successful, even though as per Form 45, he had lost the election. He stated that the Form 47 showed the respondent as the winner, which was against the facts.

He asked the tribunal to declare the notification of MNA Saiful Malook Khokhar’s victory null and void.

Plea against victory of Azma’s husband on PA seat also rejected

However, the tribunal rejected the petition at the preliminary stage.

The tribunal will issue a detailed verdict later.

MNA Khokhar had bagged 67,117 votes against 60,479 secured by the runner-up petitioner.

Meanwhile, the same election tribunal dismissed an election petition against the victory of PML-N MPA Samiullah Khan, the husband of the Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari.

Justice Ahmad dismissed the petition filed by Muhammad Yasir, a candidate from PP-145, Lahore, on the ground of maintainability.

In his petition, Yasir challenged the notification of Samiullah Khan’s victory, claiming that the ECP declared the respondent successful despite the fact that Form-45 showed he had lost the election.

The petitioner alleged that Form-47 was used to declare the victory of the respondent, which had no legal justification.

He asked the tribunal to set aside the impugned notification of the returned candidate.

However, the tribunal dismissed the election petition.

MPA Khan had secured 42,578 votes against 38,262 obtained by the runner-up petitioner.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025