SC suspends election tribunal’s decision on NA-125, PP-155

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday suspended an election tribunal's orders for re-polling on Lahore's NA-125 constituency which had resulted in de-seating PML-N lawmaker Khawaja Saad Rafique.

The apex court's order effectively restores the National Assembly membership of Khawaja Saad Rafique, who served as the Federal Minister for Railways before his denotification by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Rafique, who had returned successful from the constituency in the 2013 general elections, had challenged the tribunal’s decision in the apex court. Rafique's lawyer had contended that the tribunal did not prove that his client was involved in rigging the polls.

Rafique's election to the NA-125 constituency had been challenged by the runner-up candidate, PTI's Hamid Khan.

Rafique had bagged 123,416 votes from the constituency beating PTI’s Hamid Khan who secured 84,495 thousand votes in the 2013 general elections, which the PTI claims were rigged.

Hearing Rafique's plea today, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali suspended the election tribunal's decision.

The apex court also suspended the tribunal judge’s decision to order re-poll on the Punjab Assembly’s PP-155 constituency.

The bench adjourned further proceedings for an indefinite period, ordering the election tribunal to submit all records within four weeks.