SC de-seats PML-N MNA, orders re-election on NA-101 Gujranwala

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday ordered re-election on the National Assmebly's NA-101 constituency in Gujranwala, de-seating Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Justice (Retd) Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema who was elected on the seat in the May 2013 general elections.

A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali was hearing a petition by Muslim League - Junejo candidate Ahmed Chattha challenging an earlier verdict by an election tribunal.

The PML-N lawmaker was accused of hiding details of financial assets in his candidacy papers to contest the 2013 elections. Ahmed Chattha had challenged his election and moved the tribunal arguing that he was ineligible to contest the polls.

The petition stated that Cheema hid details regarding his bank accounts and did not submit his income tax records from 2009 to 2013.

PML-N candidate Justice (r) Iftikhar Ahmed Cheema had returned successful from NA-101 in May the general elections by bagging 99,191 votes, while his opponent Ahmed Chattha, son of Hamid Nasir Chattha, had managed to get 59,878 votes.