Another plea lands in ECP against Gilani’s election as a senator

ISLAMABAD: Another petition was filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday against the election of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as a senator.
The petitioner, on behalf of advocate Azhar Siddiq, stated that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate’s win should be declared null and void as the polls were not transparent.
The plea said that rigging in elections is a crime and it should be investigated, highlighting that latest technology was not used in the polls despite the directions of the Supreme Court in this regard. The petitioner further asked the ECP to not issue a notification of Gilani’s successful election.
The plea further asked the electoral authority to investigate horse-trading in the polls and take action against those responsible. It also sought action against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz and Ali Musa Gilani over the allegations of rigging. According to the petitioner, Moosa’s video and Maryam’s statement were evidence of rigging. The ECP, the plea added, should have a case registered against the two over the violation of Sections 167, 168, and 170 of the Election Act.
Earlier on Thursday, a petition was filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking the disqualification of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Petitioner Pervez Hussain, a citizen, stated that Yousaf Raza Gilani was allegedly involved in fraud and sought his disqualification under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
“Yousaf Raza Gilani asked me to give money to Khuram Rasool for getting LPG quota,” he said, adding that despite receiving the amount, he was not given the quota.
Pervez Hussain said that he had lodged an FIR against the PPP leader over the alleged fraud. According to the petitioner, NAB converted his FIR into a reference and found his allegations true during the investigations. The court sentenced Khuram Rasool in the case, he added.
The petitioner was of the view that Yousaf Raza Gilani was indirectly involved in the fraud.
In a major upset in the Senate elections held on March 3, PDM’s Yousaf Raza Gilani defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Hafeez Sheikh by five votes. – TLTP