Tribunal terms Pak speaker poll null and void

Islamabad - Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan ina Lahore constituency in the 2013 polls.

In a dramatic verdict after hours of wait by hundreds of supporters of rival parties, the Punjab election commission's tribunal on Saturday annulled the election in a Lahore's constituency in which speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, had defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan in the 2013 polls.
The tribunal declared the elections null and void in NA-122, PP-147 and PP-148 and ordered re-polling in the constituency.
Judge Kazim Ali Malik did not blame Ayaz of rigging, but ruled that irregularities had occurred which substantially changed the outcome of the polls.
Both Imran and Sadiq had declared prior to the announcement that they would accept any verdict even if it went against them.
Judge Kazim Ali Malik delayed the announcement fearing violent reaction from supporters of the defeated candidate. Earlier workers of PTI and PML-N had brief scuffles before they were separated by the police.
The NA 122 was one of the four constituencies on which Imran Khan had initially raised objection of rigging to prove his point that the general election was massively manipulated in favour of PML-N.
A beaming Imran hugged party leaders after hearing the news including Jehangir Tareen, Ishaq Khakwani and Chaudhry Sarwar. PTI workers danced and raised slogans to celebrate the victory. - news@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan