ISLAMABD: Supreme Court has restored National Assembly membership of Malik Sultan Mehmood Hanjra of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N).
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, ruled to reinstated the National Assembly membership of PML-N’s Sultan Mehmood Hanjra. The apex court said that tribunal’s verdict was not in accordance with the law.
Hanjra had returned as winning candidate in NA-176 Muzaffargarh in 2013 General Elections. He bagged 87,335 votes. However, the runner up candidate, Malik Gulam Mustafa Khar, of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) challenged his election with Election Tribunal. Khar accused Sultan Mehmood Hanjra of obtaining a 13 Marla plot from Punjab Chief Minister by illegal means. He argued before the tribunal that Hanjra should be disqualified as MNA under constitution’s article 63.
As a result, Hanjra’s election was declared null and void in 2014. He, however, moved Supreme Court against tribunal’s verdict. After completion of arguments by complainant and defendants in April this year, the SC had reserved the decision.