ECP deseats Rawalpindi mayor

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday deseated Sardar Nasim from mayorship of Rawalpindi for violating the rules and regulations during elections on special seats in local bodies elections held in November last year.

The ECP decided the deseating of Sardar Nasim on the applications moved by two candidates Tahir Tanvir and Lubna Iqbal who had alleged that the mayor of Rawalpindi had misused his powers by allowing the chairmen of the union councils for stamping on voting papers in his office which were polled in favour of their respective candidates belonging to the PML-N candidates for special seats.

Similarly, with the de seating Sardar Nasim, the elections on special seats were also declared null and void. “Detailed reasons to be recorded separately, the instant petition as well as petition No. 24(211)/2016-Law titled ‘Lubna Iqbal vs. Sardar Muhammad Naseem Khan’ having common questions of law and fact, are accepted by the Election Commission of Pakistan,” the five-member bench of the ECP said.

The Election Commission noted that the election of members, Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi held on November 15 last year is thus set aside and the notifications of returned candidates are withdrawn. Follow up action shall be taken and fresh schedule shall be issued.

“Whereas the election of members is declared void, therefore election of mayor, Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi by such members held on December 22 last is also set aside as being void. The notification of the respondent as mayor is hereby withdrawn. Follow up action to be taken in accordance with law,” the commission noted.