IHC reserves verdict on admissibility of PPP plea challenging Chairman Senate elections
Rejection of seven votes of Yousaf Raza Gillani was illegal: PPP
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved verdict on admissibility of petition filed by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) against election of Sadiq Sanjrani as Chairman Senate.
During the hearing, lawyer of PPP candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani, argued that President of Pakistan appointed GDA Senator Syed Muzaffar Shah as presiding officer who rejected seven votes of PPP candidate for stamping on the name. Rules of the house do not mention how to correctly mark votes, he added.
On this, Chief Justice IHC Athar Minallah asked that wasn’t there any official from Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) present during the process. Farooq H. Naek told the court that no representative of ECP was part of the process.
The plea, which was filed by lawyer of PPP candidate for Chairmanship of upper house of the parliament, states that rejection of seven votes of Yousaf Raza Gillani was illegal.
PPP has asked court to nullify the rejection of votes and declare former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani as Chairman Senate.
It is pertinent to mention here that on March 12, government back candidate Sadiq Sanjrani won the election of the Chairman by securing 48 votes out of a total of 98 cast for the seat.
Candidate of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an 11-party opposition alliance – Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani received only 42 votes, while seven of his votes were rejected.
