LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has filed a petition before the Lahore High Court challenging the establishment of an election tribunal comprising a retired judge.

Through his counsel Barrister Sameer Khosa, the PTI leader pleaded that the election tribunals consisting of both serving and retired judges were formed simultaneously, which contradicts the principles of judicial independence.

He argued that such an arrangement undermines the separation of judiciary from the executive and violates constitutional principles.

The petitioner asked the court to set aside the amendment to the Election Act 2017, which allowed the appointment of retired judges to election tribunals. He also sought the dissolution of the election tribunal chaired by retired justice Rana Zahid Mehmood.

The petitioner requested the court to issue a stay order restraining the tribunal from functioning until a final decision on the matter is made.

Advocate Salman Raja had contested the Feb 8 general election as a PTI-backed candidate for national assembly seat from NA-128, Lahore. However, Awn Chaudhry of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) had won from the constituency.

Awn secured 172,576 votes against 159,024 of Raja.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2025