The Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) appeal against a previous Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling concerning Punjab election tribunals. The decision was delivered by a unanimous five-member bench, reported Express News on Monday.
The court’s verdict reversed the LHC’s June 12 decision, which had rejected the ECP’s request to appoint additional judges for the election tribunals in Punjab. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the ECP, marking a critical step in resolving electoral disputes efficiently.
Chief Justice Isa announced the ruling, confirming the approval of the ECP’s appeal. The decision was supported unanimously by all five judges on the bench, including Justices Munib Akhtar, Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, with no dissenting opinions. Additionally, Justices Mandokhail and Aqeel Abbasi added an explanatory note to the verdict.
The issue originated when the LHC Chief Justice formed eight election tribunals in response to nominations for additional judges, based on an order issued on May 29. The LHC had emphasized that under the Constitution’s Articles 219(c) and 222(b) and Section 140 of the Elections Act, 2017, the Chief Justice of the LHC had the authority to appoint election tribunal judges.
The ECP, disagreeing with the LHC’s decision, appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking resolution. Last week, the apex court reserved its ruling on the ECP’s appeal and today ruled in its favor, stating that the establishment of election tribunals should be a priority to ensure timely resolutions of electoral disputes.
Chief Justice Isa expressed optimism that the appointment process for election tribunals in Punjab would begin soon, stressing the importance of resolving election-related issues swiftly to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
This ruling ensures that the ECP will have the necessary judicial support to address electoral disputes efficiently, marking a significant development in Pakistan’s electoral process.
