SC dismisses election petitions filed by Muqam, others
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Supreme Court (SC) while rejecting the constitutional petitions filed by former federal minister Amir Muqam and two other candidates against staying the result of one national assembly and two provincial assembly constituencies of NWFP by Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the petitioners to approach PHC in this regard.
The SC also directed PHC to complete the hearing of constitutional petitions on March, 13 and 14 and announce its decision.
Former federal minister Amir Muqam and two others including Zahir Shah and Fazl Ullah had filed constitutional petitions in SC against staying results of NA-31 Shangla, NWFP assembly PF-87 and PF-88 by PHC.
A 3-member SC bench headed by chief justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar took up the petitions for hearing Wednesday. Waseem Sajjad and Qazi Anwar advocate appeared on behalf of the petitioners. Dr Babar Awan represented the other party including Saeed ur Rehman, Mehmood Yar Khan and Sher Alam
Dr Babar Awan pleaded the record of 30 polling stations was burnt and reduced to ashes in Shangla while Amir Muqam was declared successful after 9 days of elections on the basis of dummy record. The petition of affectees is pending hearing in PHC in this respect. Therefore, the SC could not hear constitutional petitions against interim order.
Waseem Sajjad counsel for Amir Muqam submitted the SC should hear the case on merit.
Babar Awan advocate argued SC can not pronounce a parallel decision under powers of hearing unless PHC is given opportunity to deliver its decision on the constitutional petitions.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of an election petition filed by a PPPP ticket holder Asif Hashmi against Malik Riaz a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (N), who was declared winner from NA.
118 Lahore according to unofficial result announced by the District Returning Officer.
A bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Ejaz-ul-Hassan and Justice Ch. Ijaz Yousaf heard the case and adjourned the hearing for Thursday.