Langove’s victory suspended byelection tribunal

QUETTA: The Election Tribunal (ET) One, consisting of Justice Abdullah Baloch of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), has suspended Mir Ziaullah Langove’s victory from PB-36 Kalat constituency of the Balochistan Assembly and declared his appointment as provincial Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs null and void.

The tribunal has ordered re-polling at seven disputed polling stations in the constituency and directed that new RO (Returning Officer), DRO (Deputy Returning Officers) and election staff be appointed for this process.

This decision was announced by the tribunal’s judge while delivering the verdict on a petition filed by Mir Saeed Ahmad Langove, a candidate from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. Akram Shah Advocate represented Mir Saeed Ahmad Langove, while Saleem Lashari Advocate represented Mir Ziaullah Langove.

During the last hearing, after the arguments from both the parties’ lawyers were completed, the tribunal reserved its decision, which was announced on Wednesday. The tribunal suspended Mir Ziaullah Langove’s victory notification and declared his appointment as Minister of Home and Tribal Affairs null and void. It ordered re-polling at the seven disputed polling stations and directed immediate appointment of new RO, DRO and election staff.

The tribunal’s decision stated that after re-election at the seven disputed polling stations (numbers 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, and 92), Form 45 should be prepared for each polling station. After consolidating all the Form 45s from the entire constituency, Forms 47 and 49 should be prepared, and the final result should be announced in the presence of opposing candidates or their agents.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has been instructed to ensure fair and transparent elections at these seven disputed polling stations by appointing new RO, DRO, and polling staff. The tribunal also directed that the records be sent immediately to the Election Commission of Pakistan through the Provincial Election Commissioner of Balochistan and that new elections be held promptly at the disputed polling stations per the law.

Meanwhile, the Election Tribunal has rejected the petition against Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, elected from PB-10 Dera Bugti.

On Wednesday, the Election Tribunal rejected the petition concerning the chief minister’s eligibility. The judgment was delivered by the election tribunal consisting of Justice Rozi Khan, who had reserved the decision after completing the hearing. Advocate General Balochistan Asif Ali Reki represented the government in the tribunal, while the case on behalf of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti was pursued by Advocate Kamran Murtaza. It should be mentioned that the petition was filed by Guharam Bugti.