BASHIR AHMED SODHAR (Petitioner) VS ECP AND OTHERS (Respondent)

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Electlon Petitlon No.39 aI 2A24

Baehlr Ahmsd Sodhar

Vs,

.\ Eloctlon cornrnlsslon of Paklrtan & Othere

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Mr, Justice Mohammad Karlm Khan Agha

Dates of hearing : l6-12-2024

Decided on : 23 -12-2024

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(a)Judgment approved for Reporting Yes

I CERTIFICATE.

Certilied that the judgrnent */Order is based upon or enunciates a principle of law */decides a question of law which is of first impression/distinguishes/. Over-rules/ reverseslexplains a previous decision.

+ Strike out whichever is not applicable.

NOTE: - (i) This slip is only to be used when some action is to be taken.

(ii)If the slip is used, the Reader must attach it to the top of the first page of tlre judgment,

(iii)Reader rnust ask the Judge writing the Judgnrent whether the

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6rI Judgrmcnt is approved for reporting.

(iv)Those directions whiclt are not to be used should be deleted.

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Ili.' : .-f., IN THE HONORABLE ELECTION TRIBUNAL AT HIGH .odtt INDH Election Petltlon r,r#tof 2024

1 Bashir Ahmed Sodhar Son of Buxall Muslim, Adult, resident of House No. A-98 Street no.3, Ghareebnawaz, Muhallah Yousuf Klran Goth, Scheme No,33 l(arachi, Contested General Election 7024 PS 97 Petitioner llq- u**,{:-.*Fr!'r*-:* v'#s*,":{'{'rrrr:"t rr{t- r VgfSUS

1.Election Commission of Pakistan Secretariat, Constitution Avenue G-S/Z lslamabad.

t 2. Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh Having office at Saddar, Karachi

3.Sanaullah Kalwar Son of unknowq I Assistant Commissioner Gulzar-e-H ijri Returning Officer PS 97

M/ Karachi East-L

,e;ii;i;;;l/ Rhmed Nadeem Awan son or Unknown (pMML) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No MC-65 Gali No.Z Green Town Karachi

5, Osama Bin lqbals/o Unknown {tndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House no. L-543 Metrovile lll, Scheme 33, Gulshan e lqbal Karachi

6.Aslam Shah S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, resiclent of House NO 122 Hill view Apartment Block D North Nazimabad Karaclri

7.Aman ullah Khan S/o Unl<nown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult resident of House No 32 t Zaffar Town Landi Malir Karachi B. Shaukat Ali S/o Unknown (MAM-P)

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Muslirn, Adult, Resident of House No A-05 Gulshan e Ghazian Sector 51-A Scheme 33 Karachi S, Arnir Bux 5/o unknown (lndependent) \ Muslirn, Adult, Resldent of House No, Goth Raees Ameer Bux lmranl Post office Shah pur Chakkar Shahdadpur Sanhgar I0.Awal Khan S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult Resident of House No 7 Street no. Sohrab Goth Scheme 33Karachi ll.Adam Khan S/o unknown (lndependent) Muslim Adult resident of House No. 20 street no, l" scheme 33-A Ghareenabad t i, Goth Gadap Karachi

12,Bashir Ahmed S/o Unknown (pppp) Muslim, Adult, Resident of Dost Muhammad Ghoonjhar Goth Muhalla brohi I Gulshan e Maymar Malir Karachi

13.Pandhi Khan S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim , Adult Resident of Scheme 33 oor,&/ Gadap Town Dhani Buksh Barohi Goth .J Malir, Karachi "* Iutr,, rl".rrrrri;tr1

Taj Muhammad D/o Unknown {lndependent} Muslim, Adult, resident of House No. 257 Muahammad Khan Junijo colony Spuer Highway Sohrab Goth Karachi

L5.Jalil Ahmed Mugheri Slo Unknown (tndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of Goth yousuf l(han sahb house no. 250 Gadap Town Muhalla Gul Malir, Karachi

16,Habib Ullah 5/o unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult Resident of house No 2/6 Gulshan Atta khail new sabzi mandi Malir Karachi t 17.Hayat Utlah S/o unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult Resident of DarulAloom

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siddiquia house n0, 3 post office Fateh Muhammad Goth Karachi

tE.Raiab Ali S/o Unknown (KS) 1" Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No, L9B Lassi Goth scheme 33 Guiro Malir District Malr Karachi

lg.Rehan Soomro S/o Unknown (lndependent! Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. Cl1 Yousuf Khan Sahb Goth Gulshan e Maymar Scheme 33 Sector 5L-A Malir Karachi Zo.Saeed Khan S/o Unknown (PAT) Muslim, Adult, resident of House No. A14 Pakhtoonabad Mangopir Sohrab Goth Malir Karachi

ZL.Syed Uzair Ali S/o Unknown (GDA) Muslim, Adult, Flat No. D-1. Sector LL-K t Haroon Heights new Karachi, Karachi 22.5hahab Uddin S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of Pathan Khan r.\ '^/ Goth Daak khana Gadap Jhanjhar Malir' Karachi

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ZS.Abdul Sattar 5/o Unknown (!ndependent) il:o ^ '\oipj hro ^ Muslim Adult, resident of house No. 36 "-kffisrsector L1-A Muhalla Lassi Goth Gulzar e Hijri Scheme 33, Karachi,

24.Abdullah S/o Unknown (JUlp(S)) Muslim Adult, Resident of House No, B 286 Scheme 33 Ali Muhammad Sheikh Goth Gadap sector 7-A l(arachi 25.Fahad Shafiq S/o Unknown (pML-N) Muslim, Adult Resident of House No R 848 Block no.l"7 Federal B Area Karachi.

t 26.Liaqat Khan S1o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim Adult, Resident of SLO Scheme 33 Super Highway Macher Colony Karachi.

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27.Majid Khan 5/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No, 1.33/8 Gulshan Akakhel new sabzi mandi Malir Karachi

a 2S.Muhammad Aslam Ghauri S/o Unknown (JUl-P) Muslim, Adult resident of Flat no. A-3041 Fonux Heights Blocl< 1 Gulistan e Johar Karachi 2g.Muhammad Jameel S/o Unl<nown {lndependent} Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. 447 Khadim Hussain Solangi Goth, Karachi 30.Muhammad Khalid Siddiqui S/o Unknown (Jt-p) Muslim, Adult, House No. 8-1/167 Sector 3 A Quetta Town Housing Scheme 33 Karachi 3l.Muhammad Rahim 5/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, House No. 4177 Etawah cooperative Society Sector 52-A Karachi t 32.Muhammad Sabir Siddiqui S/o Unknown (SKeM) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. R-S44 Green Park City Qaidabad, Karachi ffi/ 33.Muhammad Ali S/o Unknown (tndependenr) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. i.03/2 ,r* ,,,.*11,.. street No.15 Khayaban e Muhafiz DHA Vl, Karachi o*#V...

'!riq" 34,Muhammad Ghayas S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of Jama e Masjid Bait ul Muqadas Scheme 33 sector 1"5-C, Karachi 35.Muhammad Mazhar Saeed s/o unknown (rndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No, ST 6 Masjid Quba Block 7 Gulshan e lqbal, Karachi 36.Maqsood Ali S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. 48 Bilal colony Gul Ahmed Chowrangi Landi * Malir Karachi

3T.Manroor Barfat S/o Unknown (lndependent)

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Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. 108 Sukhia Goth Scheme 33 Guhar e Hijri Karachi

38.Naseeb ullah S/o Unknown (TLP)

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Muslim, Adult, Resldent of House No. 409 street No. 13 Jhanabad Block 5 Gujro Malir, Karachi

Sg.Noor ullah 5/o Unknown (ANP) Muslim, Adult, Resident of Flat No. A75 Dawood Banglows Sector 15-B Gulzar e Hijri Scheme 33 Karachi

40.Noor ullah S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No.

R-88 Pir bux Gadap Ghaniabad Block S-A Malir, Karachi

4i.. Noor Zaman Slo Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. 26g I sector l-1"-A Lassi Goth Scheme 33 Karachi

42.Waseem Akram S/o Unknown (lndependent) Muslim, Adult, Resident of House No. R2 j"2 street no. I Yousuf Sahb Khan Goth Gulshan e Maymar Karachi

W ELEq[LqN PETITION UNDER SESTION 139 OF.ELECTIOT ACr 2017 r!*,r' n lr.

-q,j;r,Being aggrieved and dissatisfied from result the general elections 2024 for t'l'' {''l r.' .a

seat of Provisional Assembly of Pakistan, PS-97, the Petitioner respectfully seeks to challenge notification dated 13th February 2024 of the alleged returned candidate and invoke section L39 of the Election Act 2017 for intervention of this Honorable Tribunal Hence this Election Petition.

BR|EF FACTS OF Tl!-E CA$-E

Thatthe petitioner contested general elections 2024 held on Bth of February * 2024 throughout the Pakistan, from P5-97 Karachi East-1 (hereinafter referred as "subject Constituency") and in the election, petitioner secured the highest number of votes in accordance with the form 45 issued under

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II\ THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH AT KARACHI

t ELECTION PETITION N o.39 0F 2024

Petitiorrer Bashir Ahmed Sodhar son of Buxial through Barrister Main Shahbaz AIi

Respondent Nos.I &,2: Election Cornmission of Pakistan and another through Mr. Abdullah Hanjra, Law Officer.

Respondent No.8: Shakat Ali s/o unknown through M/s. Raj Ali Wahid Kun*ar and ZahaHr Ahmed Chadhar, Advocates.

Respondents No.9 to 42 Nemo.

Date of Hearing 16.12.2024

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Date of Order 23.12.2024

ORDER

Mohammed Karim Khan Agha J. The Petitioner contested the general elections of 2024 for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of S indli (PS 97) however

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Respondent No.8 (Mr.Shaukat Ali) was declared AS the returned candidate (Returned Candidate) by notification dated 13.02.20 24 (the Notification) by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).Being dissatisfied with the Notification of the Returned Candidate the petitioner has challenged the same through this election petition.

2.At the very outset learned counsel for the Returned Candidate conceded that although the election petition had been flled within the permissible time frame he contended that the election petition had not been frled in accordance with some of the mandatory provisions of the Election Act 2017 (the Act) and in t parlicular Section 144 (2) (a) which would render the election petition liable to be sLrmmarily dismissed under Section 145 (l) of the Act; His main contention was that the witness's statements on affidavit (the Statements) had not been filed within tinre as they had been filed on 03.04.2024 instead of the cut off date of 28"03.24.Learned representative of the ECP agreed with the stance taken by learned counsel for the Returned Caudidate although he contended that the relevatrt cut off date fbr filing the election petition rvas 01.04.2024. v

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3.On the othcr hand lcnmed counscl for thc pctitioner contended tlat he hacl filed the stntetttcttts within tinrc as thc statemcnts had becn filcd on 27.03.2024 along with lris petition, In tlris rcspcct lrc placcrl rcliancc on Scction I39 of the

CPC.

4.I ltavc hctrd thc pnrtics nnd cxurrrilrcd tlrc rcconl along with the relevant t cnse larv nloug rvith thc rssislnncc of lc*rncd counscl nnd tlre rcprcsentative of the

ECP.

5.At tlrc out sct t tind that thc cut off date whcthcr it be 28.03-2A24 or 01.04.2024 for filing thc election petition nnd its required annexures (including the statenrcnts) is of little significance based on the particular facts and circunrstances of this case as thc contcntion of the Retumed candidate is that the statenrents were filed on 03.04.2024 which is even after the cut of date of 01.04.24 as conterrded by the rcpresentative of the ECP.

6.Some of the provisions of the Act are rnandatory and one of them is S.144 (2) (a) which is set out below for ease of reference:

" 144. Conlenls of pelitiort. - (l) An election petition shall contain---

(a)a precise slalenrcnl of the material facts on tvhich the pelitioner relies; and

(b)full particulars of any corrupt or illegal practice or other I illegal acl alleged to have been committed, including nonles af the parties u,ho are alteged lo have comntitted such corrupt or illegal practice or illegal act and lhe dale and place of the comrnission af such practice or frct.

2)The followitrg docuntents shall be attached v,ith the pelition-

(a)contplele list of witnesses and their stolenrcnts ott aflidavits; (bold added) (b) (c) (d)

It is clear from the wording of S.144 (2) (a) that the statements are aflldavits.

7.The statement of Muhammed Jurial rvho rvas lhe chief,polling agent of the petitioner is on RSI00 stantp paper and is signed by the deponent and attested by Mulrammcd Umer Panhwar Oatlr Conrmissioner on 27.03.2024 hence the petitioners reliance on S.139 CPC which is set out as under;

" 139, Outh on af/itluyit h! n,hom to be administered. In the utse of any rffitlavit under this Cole*

(a)uny Cout't or lttugislrale, or

(b)any fficer or othu' persan whom a High Courr may appoint in this t (c) behag or any fficer appoinled by any olher Court which the fProvinciil GovernmentJ has generally or specially empovered in this beltalf mry administer \he oath to lhe dependenl.,,,

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8.Notrvithstanding 5.139 CPC thc deponent had to be identified by the Contmissioner for takirrg oaths and lris alfidavit had to be sworn under oath so it flppeflrs that thc initial slntcrmcuts rvcrc nol ruadc in nccordance rvith law and does not mect tlrc rcquirenrcnts ol S.laa (2) (a).

'rt- q. Furtlrcr u,ciglrt tu thcsc .slntcrrrcrrts not hcing in accortlancc with law is givcn lry thr: {hct tlurt thc pctitiorrcr tlid not corttinuc to rely on thc original attcstntiorr of the stntcrrrcnl.s nrrd instcad Iilcd a furthcr and identical Stntcrrrcnt/Allitlnvit in thc itlcntillcation brnnch of thc Sinclh IIigh Court on 03.04.2024 rvlrich rvas duly nffinrrcd on oath by a Commissioner for taking afTidavits. It fbllotvs tlrat if tlre initial statcnrent had been in accordance with law tlrcu tlrcrc rvould havc bccn no necd for arrother iclcntical statsment to be filed the intcnt nnd puqrose o[rvhich rvas to valiclate the original statement which had not beeu liled in accordarrcc rvith larv.

10.I also called for a report form the Registrar oIthe Election Tribunal Sindh rvlrich vide its compliance report also foun<t that the second set of statemeflts (those under challenge) had been filecl on 03.04.2024 after the 45 day deadline inrposed under Section 142 of the Act.

1 l. The Supreme court has recentty ruled on the mandatory requirement of the t statentent of affidavits under S.144(2) (a) of the Act in the case of Mir Hamal Klran V BCP in Civil Appeal No.l357 of 2A24 on 20.11.24 in the follorving terms;

'0.. ... . ....TIte requirenrcnt of the furnishitrg atlidttvits r-e d nmndalory reqniremenl fl.$ clearly spelt out under Sectiott Iaa(fl(a) of the Act of 2017 whiclt stipulotes that subtttission of "cotnplele list of rpr'/rresses and lheir statemenls on nff\dtvits". The wording used under this sectiott nrukes it fi nmndntoryr requirenrcnt thnt while presentittg the eleclian petitiott sonrc doctrmettts, tulticlt include lhe stntenrcnts on nflidnvils have to be tileil othenpise lhe snid pelitiott ttould be considered as deficient or lnckittg nnd us pcr sub sccliott I of seclion IAS of the AcI af 2017, dprovisians unilcr Sectiott 142, 143 and 144 of the Acl of 2017 have uol bewr cotrtplictl rvith thetr the Election Tribunal i shntl sutttmnrily rcjccl lhe election petiliott."

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I8. It is iltt utlmitler! ltositiott that lha a./.!idat ils lrc,'s not solemnizeil on outh lhrough outh Conururs.siorrer rulher tlrc siltne were noturized onl1,, l quesliort itt this regard u'fl.f po.red to lttr. Klrutr tlrcug,h he tried to u,ri1;glc out of the situtrtion b),stuting that it rl,tu.t only il lechnicul laltse, d,r "ntwkcd" or "identified r{fitluvits" il,ere prc,rentetl on whiclr cl'o.rs-e,raminutio,ts were duly conducteel. I'lowever, he concetlcd tlmt originol ffidnvits tyere not producetl lsy lhc ttppellant, tt is agtin n scttled proltosition of lan, t that if a cloamtcnt is produced ils evidence but lr,rrs only calegorizcd us "ttffirked" or "idenlified", it cannot be fulJitled and in cfiss af non-cotrtplinnce the persofi presenring tltose docunrcnts hns lofice the brunl of non-conrplinnce.',

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19, Iftis Court in the cnse of Lt, Col. (frtd.) Ghwnnfar Abbas ,S/rslr has categorically oltserved lhal if the ffidavits ftled by o pnrly are JTnwcd fu ury ruuy anil nre ilat verified on oillt, it will bc cottsirlcreil lhnt th$ sanrc hove uot heen altestel on oath and the elecliott pctititttt is liuhle to he, inler aliu, tlisnlisserl ou lhis Irnsis olonc, Ncer//c-r:r h slule thul lhcre are plethora ofiudgmenls ott tlris i,r,rrrc ohsyving llrut v,hett ctnylhlng, ls presuihed to he done irt e parlictilar fianncr, it needs to lse dona ln lhul munner, olhersvisc, it tt,ill be cottsidercd to bc non-est in the eye.r of \ilw." (ltold added)

12.As such I find tlrat the statements wcre filed aflter the mandatory time period of 45 days in which tlrcy had to be filed and this being the case this election petitiou is sunrtnarily dismissed under S.145 (l) of the Act.

13.The election petition is disposed of in the above terms along with all pending applications.

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