The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) petition, seeking non-issuance of the notification of victory of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate for Senate elections from Islamabad Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Earlier Wednesday, the ECP had reserved the verdict in the case after hearing the rival counsels.  

However, the election commission agreed to take up PTI’s application for declaring Gilani disqualified for the Senate seat on March 22, and issued notices to Gilani and his son Ali Haider Gilani in this regard.  

Soon after issuing the verdict, the Election Commission of Pakistan also released the notification of 48 successful senators including Yousaf Raza Gilani and PTI’s Faisal Vawda.

A day ago, on March 9 (Tuesday), the ECP had rejected an application moved by ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for withholding the notification of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani’s success in the recently-held Senate elections, saying it was incomplete. 

PTI counsel Barrister Ali Zafar, Parliamentary Leader for Railways Farrukh Habib and MNA Kanwal Shauzab appeared before the commission and recorded their arguments.

Ali Zafar claimed that rigging was done during the Senate polls through money and party tickets, and that its evidence came to light in the shape of a video just a day before the elections.

The Punjab member in ECP, Altaf Qureshi, said that the PTI lawyer had already provided the transcript of the leaked video. He asked about making those who were offered money a party in the case over which Ali Zafar said they cannot be made party, but the court can call them as witnesses.

The one who took the bribe and the other who gave it both were accused, Altaf Qureshi said.

The ECP directed the PTI leaders to club all the pleas into one petition and submit it again.