Rigging alleged in polls - PMDC ordered not to announce result

By Our Staff Reporter

Karachi: The Sindh High Court has restrained the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) from announcing result of its one polling station of H category election till Dec 23 and directed it to file comments on the petition alleging rigging in the medical entity’s election.

The bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, took up the petition filed by runner-up Dr Nusrat Kamal, gynecologist of Civil Hospital Karachi, who moved the court against alleged rigging in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital’s polling station for PMDC election.

The petitioner submitted that she contested in PMDC election held on Dec 5 and got highest number of votes as per results of 10 polling stations, out of 11. She submitted that result of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital’s polling station had not been announced yet where a massive rigging had taken place. Dr Kamal submitted that she approached the election committee and made a complaint but no action had been taken yet. If the rigged result of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital’s polling station is announced, it would be seriously prejudiced her interest as she had already won the elections.

Citing the secretary ministry of national health services, PMDC and its election committee as respondents, the petitioner requested the court to direct the respondents to look into the matter and make the election free of rigging. After the initial hearing, the court issued notices to respondents and the deputy attorney general to file their comments on Dec 23. The court’s order stated: “Till 23rd December, PMDC’s election committee should not announce the result of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital’s polling station in respect of H category.”