QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti successfully defended his election win in a tribunal hearing on Wednesday, while Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove lost his position after the tribunal ordered re-polling in seven disputed polling stations.
The Election Tribunal-1, led by Justice Abdullah Baloch of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), nullified Langove’s victory from the PB-36 Kalat constituency and suspended his appointment as the Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs. The tribunal directed the Election Commission to de-notify Langove and ordered re-polling at the seven contested polling stations with new election staff.
This ruling was made in response to a petition by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl candidate Mir Saeed Ahmad Langove, represented by Akram Shah. The tribunal reserved the verdict after arguments were completed.
In a separate case, Election Tribunal-2 dismissed a petition challenging CM Bugti’s eligibility filed by his election opponent, Mir Gohram Bugti, from PB-10 Dera Bugti. The tribunal, headed by Justice Rozi Khan, allowed Sarfraz Bugti to continue as Chief Minister, finding no merit in the allegations regarding his role as federal caretaker interior minister prior to the election.
