SC orders PB-9 Kohlu re-count case to be placed before three-member bench

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (APP): The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that a case concerning re-counting in Balochistan’s PB-9 Kohlu constituency be fixed before a three-member bench.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the case. During the proceedings, petitioner’s counsel Kamran Murtaza submitted that under the rules, a three-member bench could hear appeals against decisions of an election tribunal. However, he said, the Supreme Court’s new rules did not specifically mention election tribunals.

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan observed that polling had been held at four polling stations and that the issue involved an allegedly unrealistic voter turnout.

He noted that the Supreme Court had previously adjudicated cases concerning unrealistic turnout, adding that in the present case too, the voter turnout had exceeded 80 per cent. The court adjourned further hearing until the second week of September.

It may be mentioned that PML-N’s Nawab Changez Marri had won from PB-9 Kohlu, while PPP’s Naseebullah has challenged his victory.