SC not to interfere in ECP’s work, says CJ

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled it would not interfere in the working of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) unless there was a violation of the Constitution, as a three-member bench dismissed a petition for re-polling at 11 polling stations in Balochistan.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard the appeal filed by Khalilur Rahman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), seeking the court’s order for re-polling at 11 polling stations of the Balochistan Assembly constituency,PB-7 Ziarat.

The bench rejected the appeal against the decision of the ECP. The chief justice told the lawyer for the appellant that unless the court was informed about any illegal or unconstitutional act of the ECP, it would not interfere in the working of the election oversight.

The chief justice asked the lawyer, where the Constitution was violated in the ECP decision. The counsel replied that the ECP did not conduct an enquiry. The chief justice told the lawyer if there was any issue with the election results, the relevant forum should be approached.

Sitting on the bench, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked whether there was any rigging in the election. On that the lawyer replied that the election was rigged. Justice Mazhar told the lawyer that he should prove the rigging at the relevant forum.

“The Constitution is very clear, the Election Commission [of Pakistan] is a constitutional body and it must be respected,” the chief justice remarked. He added that if there was no violation of the Constitution or the law, the court would not interfere.