The Balochistan High Court’s election tribunal on Friday declared the election of National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri as “null and void” and ordered re-election in NA-265 constituency,
PTI leader Suri was elected from the area in 2018. He was later elected to hold the position of the Deputy Speaker o National Assembly of Pakistan.
Notably, Suri’s victory had earlier been challenged by Balochistan National Party leader Nawabzada Lashkari Raesaani. He alleged that Suri has won the seat by rigging the pole.
The election tribunal, headed by Justice Abdullah Baloch, had reserved its verdict on Raisani’s petition against alleged rigging in the 2018 general elections on September 15. Apart from Raisani and Suri, Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Hafiz Hamdullah of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, and former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Raheela Durrani had contested the election from NA-265 (Quetta).
In a petition, Mr. Raisani stated that a total of 114,000 votes were cast during the election in NA-265 constituency out of which 65,000 votes were declared invalid. He argued that the election was rigged as 65,000 fake votes could not be verified.
However, the tribunal has de-seated Mr Suri and directed the authorities to arrange re-election in NA-265 constituency.
