News Desk: The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan on Tuesday announced its long-awaited verdict in the PB-21 Hub constituency case, paving the way for Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani to reclaim his seat in the Balochistan Assembly.
A three-member bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, accepted Bhutani’s petition by converting it into an appeal after hearing arguments from all parties. The case was filed against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Mir Ali Hassan Zehri.
The court had reserved its decision on January 29 after detailed hearings. Sardar Saleh Bhutani was represented by senior lawyers Khawaja Haris Ahmed and Amanullah Kanrani, while prominent constitutional expert Farooq H. Naek appeared on behalf of Ali Hassan Zehri.
According to the verdict, once the detailed judgment is issued, the notification declaring Mir Ali Hassan Zehri as Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from PB-21 will stand cancelled. In its place, the earlier notification dated February 9, 2024, along with the Returning Officer’s Form-47, will be restored in favor of Sardar Saleh Bhootani.
The ruling effectively means that Ali Hassan Zehri will no longer hold the status of MPA from PB-21 Hub, while Sardar Saleh Bhootani will be officially declared the returned candidate from the constituency. The decision has sparked political discussion in Hub and across Balochistan, as supporters of Bhootani welcomed the court’s move as a victory for electoral justice and due process.
