QUETTA: On Monday, an election tribunal ruled that the victory of Mir Ali Madad Jattak, the minister of agriculture for Balochistan, was invalid and directed that 15 polling places in the PB-45 Quetta seat be reopened for voting.
After wrapping up the hearing of the election petition filed by Mir Usman Pirkani, a JUI-F candidate from PB-45 Quetta, who contested the victory of Ali Madad Jattak, a PPP lawmaker and minister for agriculture, the tribunal, presided over by Justice Abdullah Baloch of the Balochistan High Court, had postponed making a decision.
Following a review of all witness testimony and documentation, the election tribunal affirmed the petition and ruled that Mr. Jattak’s victory was invalid. Additionally, the tribunal mandated re-elections at 15 voting places in PB-45. Along with losing his ministerial post, he will also lose his membership in the assembly.
Advocates Qazi Najeeb-ur-Rehman and Muhammad Rashid Ayub argued the petitioner’s case, while Mr. Jattak was represented by attorneys Bahram Tareen and Jameel Ahmad Babai.
Mr. Jattak will run for reelection as the second current minister in the government of Balochistan to lose his position.
Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove was previously removed by the electoral tribunal when rival candidate Sardar Saeed Ahmed Langove in PB-36 (Kalat) contested his victory. The tribunal mandated that seven polling places have new elections. Mr. Langove consequently appealed the tribunal’s decision to the Supreme Court, which denied his petition on Monday.
