ET orders placement of ads in papers to inform respondents

PESHAWAR: The election tribunal on Monday directed the relevant officials to place advertisements in newspapers to ensure the appearance of all the respondents in the court.

Justice Shakeel Ahmad heard the petitions of the losing candidates, including Kamran Bangash, Mahmood Jan, Malik Shahab, Arbab Jehandad, Mohammad Asim, Sajid Nawaz and Mian Iftikhar Hussain of the Awami National Party.

A group of lawyers, including Ali Gohar Durrani, Mubashir Manzoor, Shumail Ahmad Batt and others appeared on behalf of the petitioners. Babar Khan Yousafzai represented Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

The lawyers told the tribunal that the losing candidates had challenged the results of their respective constituencies as they believed they were made to lose the election. The lawyers said that the losing candidates were declared winners by changing the results.

In the case of the former deputy speaker and independent candidate Mahmood Jan, the court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to submit its reply at the next hearing. The court also ordered the relevant officials to place advertisements in the newspapers to inform the respondents to ensure their appearance at the next hearing.