Election Tribunal announced the verdict of National Assembly’s constituency NA-154 Lodhran, PML-N loses third wicket – this time from South Punjab

ISLAMABAD (BY; ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK) The election tribunal Multan on Wednesday announced its verdict in favour of PTI leader Jahangir Tareen over a petition filed by the former secretary general of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) against alleged rigging in NA-154 in 2013 election.

The tribunal de-seated Independent candidate Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch  who later join   Pakistan Muslim League—Nawaz (PML-N) The tribunal ordered re-election in the constituency NA-154.The election tribunal on Aug 20 had reserved its verdict after the lawyers of both the parties completed their arguments.

According to the short order, massive irregularities were reported in the polls with no mention of rigging, THE DAILY MAIL INTERNATIONAL reported. Earlier, the workers of both the parties, gathered outside the election tribunal have clashed, tearing at each other’s clothes and chanting slogans.PML-N MNA and PTI senior leaders visited the election tribunal.Talking to THE DAILY MAIL INTERNATIONAL , PTI leader Jahangir Tareen said, “I am hopeful about my victory.”Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch contested as an Independent candidate and won the elections with 86,177 votes, while PTI candidate bagged 75,955 votes. Later, the winning candidate joined PML-N. Tareen rejected the election result and filed an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan for recounting of votes.The Lodhran district returning officer conducted the recounting after which Baloch got 1,000 more votes. PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, dissatisfied with the recounting, rejected the result and filed a petition in the election tribunal, alleging the election was rigged.The election tribunal reserved the judgment on the last hearing, held on August 22 and fixed August 26 (today) for announcing the verdict. Election Tribunal announced the verdict of National Assembly’s constituency NA-154 Lodhran .The Independent candidate Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch won by 86,177 votes and became the member of National Assembly and after election he joined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.The General Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Jahangir Khan Tareen after losing filed petition in Election tribunal. There were strict security measures outside the site of Punjab Election Commission office. No outsider was allowed to enter the premises of building. Earlier, Election Tribunal announced verdict against two PML-N leaders Khwaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will not challenged the verdict of Election Tribunal in the supreme court and PML-N leaders Khwaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq will with draw their election petitions from supreme court within two days, the official sources of PML-N while talking to Asghar ali Mubarak the special correspondent of the daily mail Islamabad that PM Nawaz will announced this decion after the visit of Kaziksatan. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will contest the all bye- elections, The PML-N leaders Khwaja Saad Rafique , Ayaz Sadiq and Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch will be the candidates of PML-N in NA-122,125 and 154.