PML-N lawyer completes arguments before judicial commission
ROs decided number of extra ballot papers printed in Punjab, why similar way not followed, asks CJP
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) lawyer Shahid Hamid has on Thursday completed his arguments before the judicial commission. Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk said on this occasion that the decision on the number of extra ballot papers to be printed for the General Election 2013 in Punjab was taken by the Returning Officers (RO), unlike other provinces. “Why the similar process was not followed everywhere?” he questioned.
After completion of the arguments by all the parties alleging the elections to have been rigged, ruling party’s lawyer has also completed his arguments. Criticizing the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in his arguments, Shahid Hamid said that PTI was not even in the frame for winning the elections in Punjab. “Out of the total National Assembly seats in Punjab, PTI candidates remained 3rd of 79 while they did not file any candidates on 10 of the remaining”, he said. “How do they claim that the mandate was stolen? ROs are not involved in rigging by any means”, he added.
Chief Justice said that the ROs decided on the number of ballot papers to be printed in Punjab whereas this decision was taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the other provinces. He asked for an explanation over this from the ECP lawyer.
Chief Justice said that the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) had alleged the former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry of involvement in the alleged rigging and they have also provided the original text of Iftikhar Chaudhry’s address to the ROs before the election. PML-N lawyer read out the text of the former CJP’s address upon Justice Nasirul Mulk’s directions.
Exchange of harsh words was also observed between PML-N lawyer Shahid Hamid and PTI lawyer Abdul Hafeez Pirzada during the break over PML-N MNA Tallal Choudry’s statement.
