The Election Tribunal on Saturday recorded the statement of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in an election petition challenging his victory to a provincial assembly seat in 2013 general elections.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Syed Ghous Ali Shah, who lost both provincial and national assembly seats in his hometown Khairpur, (PS-29 and NA-215), to Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Nawab Ali Wassan respectively, had challenged the election results in both the constituencies before the election tribunal.
Shah of the PPP was declared returned candidate after he had secured 44,362 votes on PS-29 seat while Wassan won by bagging 91,809 votes on NA-215.
The chief minister turned up before the election tribunal headed by former SHC judge Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani where he was cross-examined by the petitioner’s counsel.
During the cross-examination, chief minister ruled out the allegations of massive rigging in the polls, saying he did not commit irregularities in the polls in his constituency.
Responding to the question about alleged unfair appointment of justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi as interim chief minister, he said he did not have close links with him. However, he admitted, Alvi was appointed to the key posts during his previous government.
He told the tribunal’s head that he was disqualified over the rigging allegations for eight years during the period of martial law imposed by former dictator Gen Ziaul Haq in 1977.
He also refuted the allegations of reshuffling in the police department by the caretaker government ahead of 2013 general elections at his instances. After recording his statement, the tribunal’s head adjourned the hearing of case to a date to be fixed later by the court office.
