Lahore election tribunal upholds CM Maryam's election win

A Lahore election tribunal on Monday upheld Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s election victory, dismissing the petition filed by PTI's Mehar Sharafat Ali challenging the result of PP-159.

The tribunal's presiding officer, Justice (Retd) Rana Zahid Mehmood, issued a 19-page verdict rejecting Mehar Sharafat’s election petition. The tribunal ruled that Maryam Nawaz’s election from the Punjab Assembly constituency PP-159 was valid and in accordance with the law.

The decision came after Barrister Allah Chatha, representing Maryam Nawaz, concluded his arguments. The tribunal had earlier reserved its judgment following the completion of the proceedings.

Earlier, in February 2024, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Lahore High Court had dismissed similar petitions challenging the victories of several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Khawaja Asif, Atta Tarar, and Awn Chaudhry.

Those petitions had sought to challenge the election results of multiple constituencies; however, the court had dismissed them, directing the petitioners to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for redress.