SC orders re-polling in NA-267

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday upheld the verdict of Election Tribunal ordering re-elections in the National Assembly constituency NA-267, Jhal Magsi, Balochistan where the ruling PML-N member National Assembly was disqualified on alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan announced a reserved verdict in an appeal filed by Khalid Magsi of ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) against his disqualification.

The court dismissed the appeal of PML-N MNA Khalid Magsi and ordered re-election in NA-267, Jhal Magsi Balochistan after upholding the Election Tribunal verdict.

On September 18, 2014, the Balochistan Election Tribunal had declared result of NA-267 Kachhi-cum Jhal Magsi as void and ordered re-election in the constituency.

Independent candidate Khalid Hussain Magsi had won after securing 42,240 votes in the constituency during the May 2013 general elections. The runner up, Abdul Rahim Rind, who secured 38,915 votes as an independent candidate, had challenged the result.

Rind had complained that rigging took place in 32 polling stations of Jhal Magsi and eight polling stations of Kachhi.

Khalid Magsi later on, challenged before the Supreme Court the Election Tribunal verdict.

The Supreme Court however, while dismissing his appeal upheld the Balochistan Tribunal verdict, ordering re-poll in NA-267 Jhal Magsi.

Khalid Magsi was elected MNA from NA-267 Jhal Magsi as independent candidate during the May 2013 general elections and later joined the ruling PML-N party.