An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday dismissed a civil miscellaneous application of PML-Q leader Humayon Akhter Khan seeking verification of prize bonds from State Bank, which were submitted by PML-N MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique in the court.
The court while dismissing the application observed that the court could not act like an investigating agency. The court said the petitioner could agitate the issue through filing a separate writ petition. Adjourning hearing on the main election petition against Saad Rafique to November 12, the court also directed the petitioner to specifically submit his arguments to establish his allegation that the respondent MNA was a cheater.
Humayun Akhter had lost general election to Saad Rafique from NA-125, Lahore. He challenged the election of Saad submitting that the MNA had concealed his assets at the time of filing nomination papers and also did not disclosed from where he had earned huge money.
He said that Saad later claimed that he got the money as he had won prize bonds of Rs 40.37 million during year 2003 to 2007. He said that the MNA did not mention the details of these prizes before the election commission. Hence, the petitioner argued, Saad Rafique is not qualified of becoming MNA under articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution for being guilty of dishonesty and perjury.
Saad's counsel Rana Asadullah said that his client had earned the money through prize bonds and had also presented the details of prize bonds and other related documents. He had submitted copy of prize bond of Rs 50 million and intimation letter from state bank regarding winning of bond and also submitted income tax return of Rs 5 million which was deducted from prize bond.