A three-member Supreme Court bench on Monday suspended the decision of an el
ection tribunal of the Balochistan High Court that nullified National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s el
ection as a member of the National Assembly.
The bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial also suspended the El
ection Commission of
Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to de-notify Qasim Suri as a member of the National Assembly.
The court, while admitting Suri’s a
ppeal for regular hearing, also issued notices to the parties in the case, besides directing the ECP not to issue the el
ection schedule for NA-265 (Quetta-II)
.
Qasim Suri in his appeal, filed through senior lawyer Naeem Bukhari, had questioned the jurisdiction of the ECP to deseat him when it was not constituted properly since the five-member commission was short of two members.
On September 27, 2019, the el
ection tribunal had declared the el
ection of Suri, a member of the
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from Balochistan, as void and order
ed reel
ection in the constituency.
Balochistan National Party’s (BNP) Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani had challenged Suri’s el
ection, alleging rigging
.
Expressing his gratitude over Super Court’s verdict, Suri said the restoration of his membership by the country’s apex court had given him another opportunity to serve the people.
He said that he was hopeful for a just decision, which would be made by keeping all the facts in view, as he had faith in the country’s institutions.
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