ECP reserves verdict on maintainability of plea against PM Khan’s poll victory

LAHORE: An election tribunal on Thursday reserved verdict on maintainability of a petition seeking annulment of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s election victory in NA-95, Mianwali, ARY News reported.

The petitioner had approached the tribunal set up by the Election Commission of Pakistan, stating that Mr. Khan didn’t disclose his complete [asset] details in his nomination papers, hence his victory should be declared void.

In his reply, counsel of PM Khan, Babar Awan, raised objection on the petition saying that the petitioner lived in Karachi and he filed a plea in Lahore, which was not permitted under the law.

He further said that petition was filed after passage of time specified by the ECP for hearing complaints regarding poll results.

The tribunal then reserved its verdict whether the petition was acceptable for processing.

PM Imran Khan had won from all five National Assembly constituencies – Mianwali (NA-95), Islamabad (NA-53), Bannu (NA-35), Karachi (NA-243), and Lahore (NA-131) where he contested from in the July 25 general elections. However a week later he decided to retain only Mianwali seat while vacating four others.

Mr. Khan wanted to retain his hometown seat where he received a whopping 162,499 votes. However, some party leaders opposed the  decision at that time, suggesting the ‘prime minister-in-waiting’ not to give up Lahore seat because they believed it could be difficult for the party to win it back. And their apprehension proved true when it was won by PML-N’s Khwaja Saad Rafique in the October 14 by-elections.