Top court rules that no objections can be raised on delimitations after announcement of polls schedule.
Supreme Court clears path for general elections, rejects delimitation objections. In a significant development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled on Monday that objections to delimitations cannot be raised after the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming general elections. The three-member bench, led by interim Chief Justice Sardar Tariq, addressed an appeal filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) decision to alter delimitations conducted by the ECP.
The decision, arising from the ECP’s appeal related to the delimitation of two provincial seats in Quetta, resulted in the Supreme Court nullifying the BHC’s decision on delimitation. This ruling essentially closes the door to any further challenges against delimitations, preventing potential delays in the election schedule due to lengthy litigation.
The recent decision follows the Supreme Court’s nullification of the Lahore High Court (LHC) order, which had suspended the training of returning officers, raising concerns about possible election delays. The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa-led bench instructed the ECP to announce the election schedule, putting an end to uncertainties surrounding the timing of the polls.
In response to the ECP’s petition, the three-member Supreme Court bench decreed that the LHC should refrain from holding additional hearings on petitions related to the appointment of polling officers. Any matters concerning this issue should be directed to the Supreme Court for consideration. The LHC’s decision, prompted by a plea from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Umair Niazi, had suspended the ECP’s decision to appoint Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs) from the executive branch.
More From FactFile: ECP issues much-awaited election schedule after SC order
With the Supreme Court’s decisive rulings, the ECP has now issued the much-awaited schedule for the upcoming general elections. In adherence to the top court’s verdict, the electoral body has also resumed training for ROs and DROs, bringing clarity and momentum to the electoral process.
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