SC to hear petition seeking to annul Feb 8 general elections

SC to hear petition seeking to annul Feb 8 general elections

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday accepted a petition for hearing seeking to declare February 8 elections null and void.

According to details, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar will hear the plea on February 19 (Monday).

In his petition, a citizen Ali Khan has made the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the federal government as respondents in the case.

He requested the top court to order new elections within 30 days to be held under the direct 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.

It is pertinent to mention that several political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have levelled allegations of rigging in the general elections.

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has formed a tribunal for hearing petitions pertaining to rigging in the February 8 polls.

The SHC registrar announced this in a notification on Friday.