Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan concluded proceedings on Wednesday regarding a petition seeking the annulment of the February 8 general elections, imposing a fine of Rs 0.5 million on the petitioner for continued absence.
Ali Khan, a citizen, had filed a plea to declare the elections annulled and to hold new elections. The plea was heard for investigations into election rigging and re-elections. A three-member bench presided by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, with Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard the request to declare the general elections of February 8 null and void.
The applicant, Ali Khan, had requested investigations into election rigging and for holding new elections. However, upon the non-appearance of the petitioner, the court dismissed the petition, imposing a fine of five hundred thousand rupees on the petitioner, Ali Khan.
The court was informed by the Ministry of Defense that despite receiving a notice on February 19, Khan failed to appear for the scheduled proceedings. Additionally, efforts to reach him through police visits to his residence proved futile, prompting concerns about his commitment to the legal process.
Details emerged during the hearing regarding Khan’s communication with the court, wherein he claimed to be traveling abroad and provided evidence of his itinerary. Chief Justice Isa expressed skepticism over Khan’s motives, questioning the authenticity of his travel arrangements and characterizing his actions as a potential publicity stunt.
Brigadier (retd) Ali Khan, the petitioner, faced repercussions beyond the dismissal of his plea, as the court also prohibited him from using the title ‘brigadier’ before his name.
It is noteworthy that following the February 8 general elections, Pakistan witnessed political turbulence, with major parties alleging widespread rigging. PTI’s founder, Imran Khan, condemned the electoral irregularities, labeling them as the “mother of all rigging,” a sentiment echoed by various political factions, further highlighting the contentious nature of the electoral process and the challenges of ensuring transparency and fairness in democratic exercises.
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