Summary PML-N candidate Riaz Malik had won NA-118 seat in 2013 general elections.
LAHORE (Web Desk) - The election tribunal has announced its verdict in Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) favour in the NA-118 case today (Wednesday), Dunya News reported.
The decision was announced on a petition filed against the election victory of PML-N candidate Riaz Malik from NA-118 constituency of Lahore.
PTI‘s Hamid Zaman, a runner-up candidate, had filed the petition alleging the PML-N candidate committed rigging in the 2013 general elections.
MNA Riaz Malik had secured 103310 votes while opposition candidate Hamid Zaman bagged 43570 in the polls.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the tribunal today dismissed the petition.
The verdict states: “This Election Petition (239/2013) is hereby dismissed with cost mention in memo of cost with a direction to the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold an inquiry about casting of double votes by 291 voters at polling stations of the constituency during process of election in light of two Scanning Reports submitted by the NADRA during trial and after inquiry if any voter/member of polling staff, who facilitated him found guilty will proceed against them in accordance with law.”
Copy of tribunal verdict.
Talking to media outside the tribunal office, MNA Riaz Malik said he had been victorious by a margin of almost 60,000 votes and the same result was upheld by the election tribunal.
Meanwhile, Hamid Zaman expressed reservation over appointment of new judge to hear the petition.
Previously, retired Justice Kazim Malik, who had deseated PML-N‘s Ayaz Sadiq from NA-122 constituency of Lahore, was hearing the petition but after Malik‘s retirement, the case was heard by Justice Rasheed Qamar.
Hamid Zaman claimed that 27,000 votes were fake, 53,000 missing and there was no record of 30,000 votes. He said the decision to challenge tribunal’s order in the Supreme Court will be taken after going through the detailed verdict.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won the 2013 general election with a sizeable majority while Imran Khan‘s PTI came third, its best ever showing.
The vote was largely seen as a genuine reflection of the electorate‘s will but irregularities are common in Pakistani elections.
On PTI’s complaints, election tribunals had found massive irregularities and ordered re-election in NA-122 and NA-125 constituencies, both won by the PML-N candidates.
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