The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed a petition on Tuesday filed by Member of National Assembly (MNA) Malik Riaz that challenged an interim order of an election tribunal.
The single LHC bench comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah dismissed the maintainability of the petition, saying that the court could not hear petitions against interim orders of election tribunals in light of an LHC full bench judgement.
Before the petition was filed, the counsel argued that Riaz was elected an MNA from NA-118 in general election but his rival challenged the election result which had ordered inspection of record in respective constituency.
An earlier application by the petitioner had requested the tribunal to record the statement of returning officer but the tribunal had turned it down. The counsel contended if the returning officer’s statement was unrecorded, then facts about allegations of rigging could not be proven.
He further contended that the tribunal’s decision was against the rules so returning officer should be ordered by court to record his statement before the tribunal.