The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the by-poll in NA 153 Multan till November 10, which was scheduled to be held on October 29. A two-judge bench of Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh while adjourning the hearing of an appeal filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Dewan Ashiq Hussain Bokhari against the decision of Election Tribunal said that apex court had decided that a three-member bench would hear the election matters instead of two.
Bokhari was elected as Member National Assembly in the general elections by securing 94413 votes. However, Rana Muhammad Qasim of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), rival candidate of Dewan Ashiq Hussain, challenged his victory before the Election Tribunal, alleging that Dewan Ashiq Hussain had a fake degree and had provided wrong information in the nomination form.
The Election Tribunal declared victory of Dewan Ashiq Hussain Bokhari null and void and disqualified. During the course of hearing, the bench observed that one of the Supreme Court lawyer earlier in an election case had submitted that as per Rule 11 of the Supreme Court for hearing any election matter, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court to be formed. Later, issuing directives to its office to fix the matter in hand before a three-member bench, the court adjourned hearing of the matter till November 10.