Karachi (Web Desk): The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) petition against the victory of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Hakim Baloch in the by-election on National Assembly seat NA-237.
During the hearing, the court inquired PTI counsel why the party didn’t approach the Election Tribunal in case of any rigging in the polls.
“We had gone to the election commission, but the door was not opened [for us],” PTI’s lawyer Shahab Imam Advocate said.
"The option to go to the election tribunal is there only after the election is over," he added.
He also said that three letters were written to the electoral body regarding the rigging and violation of the code of conduct during the by-polls.
The SHC after hearing PTI's counsel dismissed the plea.
On Tuesday, the PTI challenged the victory of PPP's Abdul Hakeem Baloch in the NA-237 by-election in the SHC.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Sindh government and the winning candidate Baloch have been made as the respondents.
In its petition, the PTI claimed that the “worst” kind of rigging was done in the by-election, alleging the PPP workers polled fake votes.
The court was informed that a complain, regarding rigging in the polling, was submitted to the ECP.
The PTI has prayed to the court to investigate the rigging claims.
It is pertinent to mention that PPP's Abdul Hakeem Baloch defeated PTI chief Imran Khan with a lead of nearly 10,000 votes in the by election in NA-237 Malir-II, Karachi on October 16.
Abdul Hakeem Baloch emerged victorious from the constituency by receiving 32,567 votes.
On the other hand, Imran Khan bagged 22,493 in the constituency which was claimed by PTI during the 2018 general elections.