ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to verify thumb impressions of voters of NA-125, a Lahore constituency from where the Federal Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique secured the National Assembly seat.
In its order issued on Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked NADRA to complete the verification exercise within 3 months and submit a report.
Talking to media, Khawaja Saad Rafique said that they are ready for even votes recounting, adding that if NADRA is asked to verify thumb impressions of voters, they don’t have any objection.
Saad Rafique became the member of Lower House on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) ticket after he emerged victorious from NA-125 as a result of 2013 elections. He defeated Hamid Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). But Hamid Khan alleged that massive ragging took place in NA-125 and as a result of his petition, an election tribunal in May 2015 annulled results of the 2013 election held in the constituency and ordered a re-poll.
However, Saad Rafique challenged the election tribunal’s decision of re-polling in NA-125 in the Supreme Court.
SC orders re-election on PS-23 Naushahro Feroze
Meanwhile, in another setback to the PML-N, the apex court de-seated its Sindh lawmaker Masroor Ahmad Jatoi and ordered re-election in PS-23 constituency of Naushahro Feroze district in Sindh.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Tariq Pervez announced the judgment on a petition filed by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and runner up candidate in PS-23 Feroze Ahmed Jamali.
