The Federal Constitutional Court has officially scheduled the hearing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition calling for the formation of an independent tribunal to investigate alleged election rigging. The case marks the first major electoral dispute to be examined by the court following recent constitutional changes.
Five-Judge Bench Formed for Hearing
Chief Justice Aminuddin has constituted a five-member larger bench, which will take up the petition on November 25. The bench will be headed by Justice Aamir Farooq and will include Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice K.K. Agha, Justice Rozi Khan, and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah.
PTI’s central secretary-general, Salman Akram Raja, approached the court seeking a fully independent tribunal to investigate what the party describes as widespread electoral irregularities. PTI argues that only a transparent and autonomous investigative body can ensure public trust in the electoral process.
Petition Shifted After Constitutional Amendment
The petition was initially filed in the Supreme Court. However, after the enactment of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, all cases related to electoral disputes are now routed to the Federal Constitutional Court. As a result, PTI’s plea was transferred under the updated legal framework.
The upcoming hearing on November 25 will be the first formal proceeding on the matter. The court is expected to review arguments on whether a special tribunal should be established to probe the alleged irregularities and ensure electoral transparency.
