Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s order that disqualified Pakistan Peoples Party’s lawmaker Bashir Ahmed Halepoto, on Thursday, elected to a provincial assembly seat (PS-55) in Badin.

Justice Munib Akhtar, who headed a division bench, restrained ECP from issuing the notification regarding his disqualification.

The PPP lawmaker had petitioned the high court assailing the order of ECP disqualifying him from the membership of the provincial assembly.

Halepoto, through his lawyer Haq Nawaz Talpur, had contended that ECP issued a short order, disqualifying him from the membership of the provincial assembly seat in Badin-cum-Tando Muhammad Khan illegally and without due process of law.

The petitioner said that Muhammad Hassan Mirza, the son of PPP’s disgruntled leader Zulifqar Mirza, approached the ECP accusing him of visiting polling stations and canvassing for votes during the local government elections held in August, last year.

Mirza later challenged the elections of Ali Asghar and Allah Dino to the seats of chairman and vice chairman of the district council of Badin, respectively, before the election tribunal and the matter was pending decision.

Advocate Talpur argued that his client didn’t violate the election laws, neither did he violate its code of conduct for the elections. Halepoto was appointed as a polling agent as per rules and regulations and his presence on the premises of the polling stations was strictly in accordance with the laws.

He told the judges that Mirza was running a ruthless campaign to malign and defame his client and thus, he filed application seeking his disqualification. “The ECP even provided the relief beyond what was prayed by the applicant since he had not specifically sought Halepoto’s disqualification.”

The counsel contended that ECP had proceeded against his client illegally and irrationally and pleaded the judges to declare as illegal its order and grant stay order till disposal of the petition.