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Pakistan

CEC upholds decision of Waheeda Shahs 2-year disqualification

Dunya News

The CEC has sustained the decision of disqualification of Waheeda Shah for two years.

Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Justice (R) Fakhrudin G. Ebrahim, while announcing the reserved judgment yesterday at Karachi, disqualified MPA of PPP Waheeda Shah from being elected as a member of an Assembly for two years.Waheeda Shah had been found guilty of slapping Presiding Officer Habiba Memon and others during the polling of bye-elections at polling station No.16 on February 25, 2012 and had therefore been found guilty of interfering in the polling process.In pursuance thereof, on 7th March 2012, the ECP declared the poll of PS-53 void under Section 103AA of the ROPA and disqualified Waheeda Shah from being elected as a member of an Assembly for two years under Section 100 of the ROPA by separate majority decisions.Subsequently, the Sindh High Court maintained her conviction but quashed her disqualification on the ground that the power to disqualify under Section 100 of the ROPA vests exclusively with the Chief Election Commissioner and not with the ECP.In pursuance to the above, a notice was issued on behalf of the CEC to Waheeda Shah for a hearing and the matter was finally argued at length on 24th October 2012 and the judgment was reserved.The CEC observed in the judgment that Waheeda Shah has undermined the entire election process and the faith of the country in our democracy. Furthermore, elections and their results will become farcical if candidates are given a free hand to coerce, threaten or abuse election officials and therefore, such conduct cannot be condoned.