RAWALPINDI – The Election Commission of Pakistan has de-seated the mayor of Rawalpindi, Sardar Naseem, from his post after finding him guilty of malpractice during last year’s Local Bodies election for Reserved Seats.
A five-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza announced the decision on Wednesday, after taking into consideration two separate petitions against Naseem.
In their petitions, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Lubna Iqbal and PML-N’ sTahira Perveen had maintained that Naseem used his influence to rig LB polls for reserved seats prior to being elected city mayor.
The petitioners also produced visual evidence of Naseem entering a polling station during polls on Nov 15, 2016, and using his influence to tilt the polling process in favour of a particular candidate.
The accused, through his lawyer, confessed to entering the polling station on that date, but maintained that he left shortly after a presiding officer objected to his presence. He denied any wrongdoings.
But the commission, in its short order, accepted the petitioners’ arguments and disqualified Naseem.
