ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has slated a hearing to consider a petition aiming to invalidate the February 8 general elections.
Scheduled for February 19, the hearing will be presided over by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, with Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musarrat Hilali also on the panel.
The petitioner, Brig (retd) Ali Khan, alleges pre-poll rigging and delays in announcing election results, contending that these factors pose a grave threat to democratic principles.
Khan asserts that, given these concerns, the formation of a post-election government should be halted. Instead, he suggests that the Supreme Court oversee a fresh election.
The forthcoming hearing is expected to address these contentious issues as the court weighs the validity of the February 8 elections and considers the appropriate measures to safeguard democratic integrity. The ruling could profoundly impact the country’s political landscape and electoral procedures.
With the case’s importance underscored, all eyes are on the Supreme Court as it convenes to deliberate on the petition and chart the course forward in this legal saga.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam have jointly declared that the elections held on February 8 were marred by rigging, signaling a potential threat to stability in the country.
This revelation came to light following a meeting between a PTI delegation and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman on Thursday, where they deliberated on the post-election scenario. With this statement, it appears that like PTI, JUI-F also appears on a war path with the military establishment.
While both parties refrained from announcing specific measures such as protests, they affirmed their commitment to devising a comprehensive strategy for the future.
Hafiz Hamdullah of JUI categorically denounced the election results as ‘rigged,’ aligning the party’s stance with that of PTI.
Barrister Saif stated that Imran Khan had instructed PTI to engage with all parties sharing concerns about the integrity of Pakistani elections. He reiterated the consensus between the two parties that the people’s mandate had been compromised.
The PTI delegation, headed by Asad Qaiser and comprising Barrister Saif, Amir Dogar, and Fazal Khan, met Maulana at his residence in Islamabad, where they conveyed a personal message from Imran Khan.
The JUI delegation, including Senator Talha Mahmood and Hafiz Hamdullah, engaged in discussions with PTI regarding election rigging concerns and the broader political landscape.
Sources revealed that PTI extended an invitation to JUI to collaborate in opposition and address issues related to election integrity.
However, both parties chose not to entertain questions from reporters after the press conference.
Meanwhile, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam, boldly asserted that the vote of no-confidence resulting in the removal of Imran Khan from power was orchestrated at the instigation of General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lt. General Faiz Hameed.
