Chaudhry Shujaat withdraws plea against Ahmad Mukhtar

LAHORE: PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has withdrawn disqualification plea against Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar filed in the Lahore High Court more than three years ago, Geo News reported.

PML-Q President Ch Shujaat who lost National Assembly election from NA-105, Gujarat, to Ahmad Mukhtar of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had moved the petition in 2008.

Ch Shujaat had requested the court to declare Ahmad Mukhtar disqualified because rigging was committed during the polling. He alleged that on the day of polling, grave rigging was committed by Mukhtar and the polling staff in the constituency.

He said the PPP workers forcefully barred a number of his (Shujaat's) voters from casting their votes almost at all the polling stations. He alleged the returning officer also considered a number of rejected votes in favour of Ahmad Mukhtar, while the RO was bound to re-examine all the rejected votes presented by the presiding officers.

He pleaded that Ahmad Mukhtar was also defaulting on Rs 635,162 property tax so he be declared disqualified for contesting elections. He prayed the court to declare him (Shujaat) as returned candidate.