All election petitions to be disposed of by end of 2014: Sheikh Aftab

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed Monday that all election petitions are expected to be disposed off by the end of the year.

Replying to questions Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said in all 403 election petitions were filed after the last general election. Out of them, 317 petitions have been disposed off by the election tribunals and 86 are still pending.

To another question, he said it is effort of the parliamentary committee on Electoral Reforms to complete its task at the earliest.

The Speaker told the House that the committee formed an eleven member’s sub-committee in its meeting today to consider recommendations received so far from different stakeholders. He said 4500 pages worth of suggestions have been received by the committee so far.

The Speaker also informed the House that membership of some of parliamentarians has been suspended due to non-filing of declaration of assets. He asked such members to do so at the earliest so that they could participate in the proceedings of the House.

To another question the Minister said total recoverable reserves of oil in KPK are 126 million barrels besides 1334 billion cubic feet of gas. The average gas production from KPK at present is 370 mmcft per day.

The House was told in a written reply that the portion of Karakoram highway near Attabad village in Hunza, damaged by landslide, is likely to be restored by the end of July next year.