The Tribunal Judge, Kazim Malik, in his verdict ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold re-polling in both the constituencies.
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Ayaz Sadiq, who had been declared a victor from NA-122, stands relieved as the Speaker of National Assembly after the Election Tribunal’s ruling. Throughout the day, the temperature outside the tribunal remained high as political workers chanted slogans in favour of their respective leaders.
Meanwhile, Ayaz Sadiq has announced to challenge the verdict about NA-122 by the tribunal in the apex court.
It marked a morale-booster for PTI after it suffered a serious setback when on July 23 a high-level judicial commission dismissed the party’s allegations of alleged organised rigging in 2013 general elections.
Party workers and activists belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) had also gathered outside Election Commission Punjab office.
PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, termed the decision as historic, adding that it would go a long way in ensuring a transparent election system in Pakistan.
The tribunal had issued special passes to five persons from each side – PTI and PML-N – to hear the decision. When proceedings for the case began in July 2013, Ayaz Sadiq obtained a stay order. By August 17, the counsels finalized their arguments and the tribunal reserved its verdict.
The NA-122 was among the four controversial constituencies where the PTI had demanded for voters’ thumbprint verification.
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It said 12,000 votes were bogus, as National Database and Regulatory Authority (NADRA) failed to verify their veracity.
