RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Dr Farooq Sattar filed a petition in Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday against his expulsion from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

In his petition, he stated that his expulsion from the party is against the rules of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and also against the law relating to political parties.

The SHC bench headed by Justice Junaid Ghaffar issued notices to ECP and MQM-P on Dr Sattar’s plea. However, the counsel of Dr Farooq Sattar was directed to satisfy the court in the next hearing on the admissibility of the petition. The hearing of the case will be held on February 07.

The counsel for Farooq Sattar stated before the court that his client had been elected as Karachi Mayor on the ticket of MQM-P and also had led it. Justice Junaid remarked the matter pertains to Election Commission and the petitioner should approach it. The court asked whether he moved ECP that had registered MQM-P. He asked why Election Commission was not moved prior to approaching SHC.

The counsel for Farooq Sattar told the court the laws of ECP were silent on the issue that was why the matter had been delayed.

The SHC issued notices to ECP and MQM-P to submit their replies.

Meanwhile, the election tribunal at SHC directed the parties to give their arguments on the next hearing on February 04 in the election petition filed by Dr Farooq Sattar against alleged rigging in the National Assembly constituency from Karachi which he lost to Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Dr Sattar requested suspension of the notification vis-à-vis election of Dr Amir Liaquat until the verdict on his petition in which he argued that gross irregularities were committed in the election to National Assembly from the constituency where Amir Liaquat defeated him as per polling results.