ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) On Wednesday, dismissed a petition calling for the annulment of the February 8 elections and demanding a re-election, while also imposing a fine of Rs 500,000 on the petitioner for failing to appear before the court.
The SC’s decision came during a hearing led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, alongside Justices Musarrat Hilali and Muhammad Ali Mazhar, regarding Brig (retd) Ali Khan’s plea to invalidate the polls due to alleged rigging.
Various political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), have expressed dissatisfaction with the transparency of the general elections.
Concerns over the election’s integrity were further heightened by revelations from former Rawalpindi Division commissioner Liaqat Chatha, who resigned on Saturday citing guilt for facilitating widespread electoral fraud in the garrison city, intensifying political tensions in the country.
During the hearing, CJP Isa inquired about the petitioner’s identity, learning that the applicant is a former military officer who faced court-martial in 2012.
The court noted the importance of preventing a court-martialed individual from using the rank of brigadier.
Efforts to contact the petitioner were detailed by the additional attorney general, who mentioned sending the police to Khan’s residence and issuing a notice from the Ministry of Defence, both of which went unanswered as the petitioner was unavailable.
CJP Isa expressed surprise at the petitioner’s absence from the country after filing the application, questioning if it was a deliberate move.
Justice Mazhar highlighted that, according to the petitioner, he had not engaged with any media outlet nor submitted the application himself.
It’s worth noting that concerns about the transparency of the elections extend beyond political parties, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressing doubts about the reliability and credibility of the electoral process, particularly the post-election procedures.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
