KARACHI:Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday disqualified Karachi’s Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra for changing political party.
Vohra was appointed Karachi’s Deputy Mayor on Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) ticket after being elected as chairman Union Council 49 of district central, but later, he joined Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).
As per Political Parties Act, MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had filed a petition that sought Vohra’s disqualification for changing political loyalty.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, heard the case thoroughly and had reserved its verdict recently. In last hearing, Vohra had said: “There is no party under the name of MQM-Pakistan registered with the Election Commission; therefore, the petition should be dismissed.”
Vohra’s counsel Syed Hafizuddin told media that his client had been nominated for the post by MQM-London, which he had left due to treason charges leveled against it. “MQM-P is however a new party,” he said. He said that Vohra had the right to appeal against the disqualification verdict.
After changing loyalties on October 29, the deputy mayor’s security protocol and secretarial facilitation were taken away on the orders of Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar.