ISLAMABAD -  The Supreme Court on Monday passed interim order to suspend the re-election at PB-50 Turbat, Balochistan.
Balochistan Provincial Minister for Fisheries Akbar Askani prayed before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk that the Election Tribunal had ordered for re-election in his constituency due to low cast of votes and rigging.
He said the reasons for low turnout were the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and there was no fault of him in this connection regard while his rival did not provide evidence of rigging in the election. The bench after hearing the arguments of petitioner’s counsel suspended the Election Tribunal’s decision and issued notice to Akram Baloch and Election Commission of Pakistan.
The Balochistan Election Tribunal on December 5 ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold re-elections in PB-50 Turbat. The tribunal passed this order on an application filed by the National Party leader Akram Baloch.
Earlier, Baloch had pleaded that Akbar Askani, a Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) legislator had won the seat through fraud and rigging.
Tribunal Judge Justice Hashim Kakar said in his judgement that evidence of irregularities, fraud and rigging was found in the elections of PB-50 Turbat.