Pak tribunal unseats minister close to Sharif

In a setback for ruling party, the election tribunal also ordered reelection in the Punjab Assembly constituency won by PML- N’s Mian Naseer

In a big blow to the Pakistan Muslim League ( Nawaz)- led government, an election tribunal on Monday declared Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’ s close aide, federal railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique’s election from NA- 125 ( Lahore) null and void, citing rigging and ordered re- election in the National Assembly constituency.

The tribunal announced its brief verdict in the Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf case pertaining to alleged rigging in NA- 125 during 2013 general elections. In the decision, seen as setback for ruling party, the election tribunal also ordered re- election in the Punjab Assembly constituency PP- 155 won by PML- N’s Mian Naseer.

PTI leader Hamid Khan, who was runner- up candidate, had challenged Mr Rafique’s victory, claiming rigging in the election. Mr Khan had requested the tribunal to declare the election null and void and announce re- election in the National Assembly constituency. The decision came after the tribunal found irregularities in the polls that were held in the constituency in the May 2013 general elections.

Mr Rafique will now have to resign as a mem- ber of the National Assembly, according to former Election Commission of Pakistan secretary Kanwar Mohammed Dilshad. “Saad Rafique can, however, challenge the disqualification in court”, Mr Dilshad added. The PTI leaders, meanwhile, celebrated the verdict terming it a victory of the party and an evidence that their rigging claims were true.

PTI leader Asad Umar said, “The re- polling is the beginning of the end of current assemblies”. Responding to the tri- bunal’s verdict, Mr Rafique said the decision is against the incompetence of returning officers and presiding officers. “The judge ordered repolling because he feels there are some irregularities”, he said.

Mr Rafique added, “The judge has punished my party and me for the incompetence of the officers”. “Today’s decision declared there was no rigging, the judge said there were irregularities owing to incompetence”, he said, adding the verdict is unfair.

Nepalese villagers walks near their makeshifts tents at Laprak village in Gorkha district of Nepal on Monday.

Relief material brought in from China sits at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Sunday.

Red Cross personnel help victims in Kathmandu on Sunday.