The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarian Faisal Vawda’s victory in National Assembly constituency NA-249 (Karachi West-II).
Appearing on behalf of Shahbaz Sharif before a two-member bench comprising Abdul Ghaffar Soomro and Justice (r) Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi, Sharafat Ali Ch, counel for Shehbaz, urged the commission to declare the poll void on the ground that the returning officer concerned had failed to resolve the “controversy”.
The returning officer had rejected the application of the PML-N president for a vote recount in the constituency. Sharafat Ch contended the rejection of the plea was a violation of the ECP’s provisions. When asked why the applicant not invoked the jurisdiction of the election tribunal in the matter, Sharafat Ch submitted that the ECP has powers to declare the poll void.
Later, the bench reserved the verdict on the plea. It may be noted that Vawda had clinched victory against Shehbazwith a meagre marging of 723 votes.
Published in Daily Times, September 19th 2018.
