Alleged rigging in polls: PML-Q MNA issued notice for not recording statements

The Lahore High Court has issued notices to PML-Q MNA Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat for August 27 for not appearing before the local commission appointed by the court to record the statements of his witnesses. The court, however, allowed him time to appoint a new counsel in the case.
Earlier, Faisal Saleh appeared before the court and contended that he would like to engage another counsel as his counsel was not appearing before the court due to his occupation. He, therefore, sought short adjournment to engage a new counsel.
The court was conducting proceedings in an election petition filed by former federal minister Begum Abida Hussain who had lost election against Faisal Saleh Hayat from NA-69, Jang-III. She alleged in her petition that the respondent MNA rigged polls to get results in his favour. She also alleged that the MNA had harassed her supporters and the polling staff to get results in his favour.
The petitioner further stated that Hayat was a bank defaulter and thus was not eligible to contest the election. She therefore prayed to the court to disqualify the MNA as he violated the election laws and created a law and order situation in the constituency on the polling day.