SC disposes plea seeking annulment of Feb 8 elections

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed petition seeking cancellation of the general election held on February 8.

The petitioner retired brigadier Ali Khan failed to appear before the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The court expressed its displeasure and imposed a fine of five lakhs on the petitioner.

The petition urged the court to order new elections within 30 days to be held under the direct supervision and oversight of the judiciary to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability.

The additional attorney general informed that petitioner was a former brigadier. CJP Isa observed that Ali had stated he could not appear before the court as he was in Bahrain. He travelled to Doha and then Bahrain on a ticket of Qatar Airways on Feb 13.

“It is strange, you are filing petition on one day and next day you leave the country,” Justice Isa remarked. “Our branch has confirmed that the email belongs to the same person,” he said.

“The petitioner has written, he is out of country and requested for withdrawal of the petition,” CJP said. “Petitioner Ali Khan wrote he could not appear in court and annexed boarding pass, ticket and Bahrain travel papers with email,” Justice Isa said.

Additional Attorney General told the court that the police went to the house of petitioner Ali Khan, while a notice was also sent to him via the Defence Ministry.

“Who is Ali Khan,” Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the government lawyer. “He is a former brigadier and was court-martialed in Year 2012,” AAG replied.

The three-member bench also comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali disposed of the plea and imposed a fee on the petitioner.