IHC denies Vohra's plea to stay Karachi deputy mayor's election

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday denied former deputy mayor Karachi Arshad Vohra’s plea seeking a stay order against the election for the office being held today, ARY News reported.

Justice Aamir Farooq of the high court rejected the petition of Vohra seeking suspension of the election results.

The court issued notices to the parties in the case and summoned their answers on the matter.

The polling has been underway today to elect Karachi’s new deputy mayor.

The ECP had deseated Vohra over a petition of his former party MQM-P after he switched loyalties to Pak Sarzameen Party.

The former deputy mayor Karachi challenged the March 13 decision of the ECP.

Over 300 members of Karachi’s City Council exercising their right to vote to elect the new deputy mayor of the city today.

Vohra had become the deputy mayor on the ticket of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan. He had been elected chairman from the Union Council 49 in local councils elections from Karachi’s central district. Later, he joined Pak Sarzameen Party.

His former party MQM-P sought the election commission to deseat Vohra for switching loyalty to the Mustafa Kamal-led party.

A five-member bench of the ECP headed by its chief, Justice (retd) Sardar Raza heard the petition and announced to unseat the deputy mayor.