Pakistan top court postpones hearing on case seeking to annul Feb 8 election results

Pakistan Election Results 2024: The Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) postponed the hearing of the petition that sought to declare the Feb 8 national elections as 'null and void' due to the petitioner's non-appearance. Widespread rigging claims as well as delayed election results have tainted the purported integrity of Pakistan's elections.

As thethree-member bench — led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali — took up the plea, the petitioner did not appear before the court, Pakistan's Dawn publication reported.

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The top court thenissued a notice to the petitioner, Brigadier (retd) Ali Khan through the defence ministry and adjourned the hearing until Feb 21.

Pakistan's Supreme Court noted that thephone number of the petitioner, who had identified himself as a former brigadier, was turned off when contacted.

"Was the application filed only for publicity? This cannot be allowed. We will not allow the Supreme Court to be used in a wrong manner," the court reportedly observed.

IHC suspends results

Notably, on the same day, the Islamabad High Court (IHC)suspended the results of three constituencies in the federal capital after the success of the candidates was challenged.

After hearing the case, IHC suspended poll result notifications issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) forNA-46, NA-47 and NA-48 seats.

Call to annul Pakistan election results: What is the context?

The February 8 general elections in Pakistan gave the majority tonone of the parties and were conducted when mobile phone connectivity was cut off in the entire country. Furthermore, the accusations of rigging followed, and the delayed election results added to the overall taint.

In the results that were announced, jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf-backed independent candidates secured 92 seats, while Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured 75 and 54 seats, respectively.

The PML-N and the PPP are trying to form a government with former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif emerging as the next prime minister.

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The petitioner in the case sought the apex court to order fresh elections within 30 days. The plea sought general elections under the supervision and oversight of the judiciary to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability.

Additionally, the petition also sought a stay order on the formation of the new government till the case is resolved.

(With inputs from agencies)