PHC stops sanad-holder nazim from taking oath

By Akhtar Amin

PESHAWAR: A division bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday restricted a nazim-elect from taking oath after his rival candidate challenged his madrassa sanad in light of a Supreme Court judgement.

The PHC had earlier granted interim relief to Bakht Alam Khan, elected as nazim of Shringal union council in Upper Dir, by admitting his petition and allowing him to contest the municipal elections, on August 15. Khan had filed a petition in the PHC stating that his nomination papers had been rejected by the returning officer and the district returning officer on the grounds that his madrassa degree from Darul Ulum Haqania in Akora Khattak, was not recognised by the Wifaqul Madaris.

Alam’s lawyer had told the PHC that his client’s madrassa degree was considered equivalent to the SSC certificate and he should be allowed to contest the elections. Alam’s rival candidate Badshah Saleh also challenged Alam’s madrassa degree, alleging it was bogus.

Saleh’s lawyer Latif Afridi asked the two-member PHC division bench consisting of Justices Qaim Jan Khan and Fazlur Rehman to stop Alam from taking oath until the PHC decided the case. The PHC bench issued a notice to the Election Commission to stop the nazim-elect from taking oath until the court decided the case.

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