ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday declared the Election Tribunal’s order for re-election in NA-176 Muzaffargarh to be null and void, while announcing its reserved verdict.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali, ruled to reinstate the PML-N’s Sultan Mehmood Hanjra to the seat she won in 2013 General Elections. The apex court ruled that the tribunal’s verdict was not in accordance with the law.
Hanjra had returned as winning candidate in NA-176 Muzaffargarh in 2013 General Elections. He bagged 87,335 votes.
However, the runner up candidate, Malik Gulam Mustafa Khar, of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) challenged the results at the Election Tribunal. Khar accused Sultan Mehmood Hanjra of obtaining a 13 Marla plot from Punjab Chief Minister by illegal means. He argued before the tribunal that Hanjra should be disqualified as an MNA under Article 63 of the Constitution.
The tribunal revoked Hanjra’s membership in the NA in 2014, but he subsequently moved the apex court against the tribunal’s verdict.
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