SC to hear petition against May 2013 elections

Published October 24, 2014
The Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad.—File photo
The Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad.—File photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted for hearing a petition seeking to declare the May 2013 general elections null and void and order fresh elections.

The petition, filed by former SC judge Justice (retd) Mahmood Akhter Shahid Siddiqui, has been fixed for hearing on October 29 by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk.

The petition, filed through counsel Mian Allah Nawaz, pleads the court to order fresh elections.

According to the petitioner, magnetic ink used in last year’s polls was defective and action should be initiated against ECP officials and others involved in the purchase of the faulty ink.

Filed on Oct 4, the petition seeks orders to appropriate authorities to punish after initiating criminal as well as departmental actions the members of the ECP and officers who purchased defective ink from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) laboratories and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and supplied it to the returning officers and presiding officers for use in polling stations.

Also read: Ex-judge files plea in SC against 2013 polls

The petitioner says the main issue was why ECP members, ROs and POs did not follow the statutory pre-requisites to the election process.

The petitioner has included the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as a respondent in the constitutional petition.

Justice Siddiqui is a former SC judge from Bahawalpur who retired on Oct 3, 2011.

The petition comes at a time when opposition parties led by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have been carrying out anti-government demonstrations across Pakistan in protest of alleged rigging in the 2013 polls.

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...