SC rejects withdrawal of plea seeking annulment of elections

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered that the police bring the plaintiff before the court in connection with a petition calling for the 2024 elections to be nullified.

A three-judge panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa, considered the case of a petitioner named Ali Khan, who has asked for the general elections held on February 8 to be declared invalid.

Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali are also members of the bench. As the hearing began, the petitioner’s lawyer stated that his client no longer wished to pursue the case and asked for permission to withdraw the petition.

‘One cannot treat the Supreme Court this way. Retrieve the petitioner from wherever he is and ensure he appears in court,’ Justice Isa stated, emphasizing that the bench intended to proceed with the hearing of the petition.
Read more: SC sets hearing date for the petition to overturn the Pakistan elections 2024.

Meanwhile, CJP Qazi Faez Isa also ordered the SHO of the jurisdiction the plaintiff living in, to present the Ali Khan before the court.

The further hearing on the plea has been adjourned until February 21 after issuing notice to the plaintiff via defense ministry.

Plea

The Supreme Court was moved by a private petitioner urging the top court to declare the Feb 8 general elections null and void due to alleged violations of electoral integrity and democratic norms.

The petition asked the court to order new elections under the direct watch of the judiciary within 30 days to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability”.