The Election Tribunal has ordered the suspension of the assembly membership of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly member Syed Imam Malik and directed that all postal ballot papers be recounted within five days. The tribunal formally announced the suspension of Syed Imam Malik’s basic party membership and ordered the recount of the postal ballots under Order 85 and Section 95, according to media reports.
Syed Imam Malik contested the Gilgit-Baltistan elections from GBA-16 Diamer-II as an independent candidate. After winning the election, he joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). The Chief Election Commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan approved a request submitted by IPP Secretary General Mian Khalid Mahmood and subsequently issued an official notification confirming Imam Malik’s joining of the party.
Syed Imam Malik, who contested the election from GBA-16 Diamer-II as an independent candidate, secured a narrow victory over his rival, Attaullah, by a margin of 24 votes. The Returning Officer did not count the postal ballot papers when preparing Form 49. Instead, a provisional Form 49 was issued on the basis of Form 47. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Attaullah subsequently challenged the provisional Form 49 issued by the Returning Officer before the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Tribunal.
Why did the matter reach Election Tribunal?
Syed Imam Malik, who contested the election as an independent candidate from GBA-16 Diamer-II, secured a narrow victory over his rival, Attaullah, by a margin of just 24 votes. However, the postal ballots were not counted when the Returning Officer issued Form 49. Instead, a provisional Form 49 was issued based on Form 47.
Subsequently, Attaullah, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate, challenged the provisional Form 49 issued by the Returning Officer before the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Tribunal.