Daily Times

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned a petition filed by Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri challenging an election tribunal’s Sept 27, 2019 verdict that declared his election from National Assembly seat, NA-265 (Quetta-II), null and void and ordered re-election.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, extended its stay order, suspending the operation of the verdict in question until Feb 11. The other two members of the bench were Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Yahya Afridi.

The hearing was put off until Feb 11. The bench also took up a petition by Balochistan Awami Party’s (BAP) Akbar Askani against the tribunal’s Dec 31, that declared his election as void. Akbar Askani had returned elected from PB -48 Kech-IV constituency.

Earlier, Qasim Suri’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari had said in the plea that irregularities in the electoral process could not be attributed to his client. He pleaded with the bench to declare the decision of the election tribunal as void.

An election tribunal presided over by Justice Abdullah Baloch had ordered re-election in the Quetta constituency on Sept 27.

Balochistan National Party’s (BNP) Lashkari Raisani had challenged the victory of Qasim Suri, who contested the 2018 general election on a ticket of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

Railways case

Separately, the Supreme Court on Monday summoned Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed, secretary and chief executive officer on January 28 in railways losses case.

During the hearing conducted by three-member bench, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed expressed resentment over audit report and said that no other department is facing corruption more than railways.

The people traveling on trains in Pakistan are risking their lives, the CJP added.

The top judge further asked about the follow-up of train fire incident over which, railways lawyer said that inquiry against two suspects is underway.

Justice Gulzar pointed out that the department has failed to install proper tracks and signals to ensure the safety of the passengers.

World is developing its transportation system with bullet trains but we are still lacking advanced passenger and goods trains, he went on to say.

Not a single thing is working properly in Pakistan Railways, said Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan.