PESHAWAR: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday suspended the disqualification order of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister for transport Shah Mohammad Wazir by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A division bench of IHC headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition. The petitioner had taken the position that he was ‘innocent’ and accused his political rival Mamoor Khan Wazir for attacking polling stations. He alleged that after seeing his defeat, Mamoor Khan attacked polling stations in Bakakhel and presented himself an affected party before the ECP.
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The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, after hearing the arguments of lawyers of both parties, suspended the decision of the Election Commission disqualifying Shah Mohammad, issued notice to the parties and adjourned the hearing till February 11.
The court has suspended the decision of the Election Commission to the extent of Provincial Minister Shah Mohammad.
On 1 February, The chief election commissioner on Monday disqualified Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for transport Shah Muhammad Wazir and his son Mamun ul-Rasheed for five years after they were found guilty of attacking polling stations in Bannu, Southern Pakhtunkhwa.
The judgment said that they were also proved guilty of snatching election material from polling staff during the local government elections on 18 December, 2021.
The Election Commission has issued its judgment in case relating to the disruption of election process due to mob attacks on polling stations in Bakakhel Tehsil of Bannu district. The Election Commission has disqualified the provincial minister Shah Muhammad Wazir and his son for five years under Article-218 of the Election Act. The ECP has also de-notified Wazir after member KP assembly.
The Election Commission had also ordered the police to register a criminal case against Shah Muhammad’s son and thus he will not be able to contest elections till the case is decided.