The Supreme Court (SC) has barred the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from issuing notification of success of an independent candidate, Tariq Mehmood Bajwa from PP-170 Sangla Hill, until further orders.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, issued the stay order on the petition of Mansoor Ahmad Awan on Monday.
Awan took the plea that Bajwa had personally admitted that his matriculation certificate was fake. “When someone is himself admitting that his degree is fake, how can he be held eligible to contest elections? Therefore, he should not only be declared disqualified but directives should also be issued to the ECP not to issue notification of his success.”
The court while agreeing with the stance of petitioner, issued a stay order against Bajwa’s success.
Further proceedings were adjourned until May 22.