‘Murder of justice’: PTI decries SC ruling on vote recount in three NA constituencies

Our seats have been handed over to another political party with the stroke of a pen, says Barrister Gohar

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Monday expressed deep disappointment with the Supreme Court's ruling on vote recount in three National Assembly constituencies, calling it a "murder of justice."

The Supreme Court, earlier in the day, overturned the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision that nullified the vote recount in three National Assembly constituencies where Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates had secured victories.

A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, delivered the reserved verdict with a 2-1 majority, ruling in favour of the PML-N leaders who had filed the appeals.

However, Justice Aqeel Abbasi of the Supreme Court dissented from the majority decision, opposing the ruling in favour of PML-N candidates Azhar Qayyum Nahra, Abdul Rehman Kanju, and Zulfikar Ahmed.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, alongside Omar Ayub, Raoof Hasan and Shibli Faraz, strongly criticised the verdict.

“We are extremely disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling. This is nothing short of a murder of justice. Our seats have been handed over to another political party with the stroke of a pen,” Gohar said.

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He added that PTI has been subjected to severe injustice, alleging that attempts were made to strip the party of its symbol to prevent them from contesting the elections. “But every time, we emerged victorious,” Gohar stated.

Gohar emphasised that the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is to conduct free and fair elections in the country. “If the election commission fails in this duty, it must be held accountable,” he asserted.

Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz criticised the legitimacy of those declared victorious in February 8 elections, saying, “According to Form 47, these individuals have no standing. The public has rejected them.” Faraz accused the authorities of delaying results and the Lahore High Court of stalling judges' appointments, claiming it was because they couldn’t get judges of their choice.

Faraz also criticised the ruling coalition's actions in parliament. “Everyone knows the purpose behind the bills they brought to parliament. We have never disrespected any institution, be it parliament or the Supreme Court, but these people have even used the Senate floor for their interests,” he said.

He expressed concern over the weakening of the Constitution, questioning the future of a country where the Constitution is being tampered with. “We have struggled to improve this nation, but the election commission is not doing its job properly. It has failed to ensure free and fair elections,” Faraz added, vowing to continue PTI's struggle to highlight how voters’ rights are being disregarded.

Raoof Hasan reiterated PTI's demand that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa should recuse himself from cases involving the party's founding chairman, Imran Khan. “Despite multiple requests, Justice Isa has not withdrawn from these cases. Our sole demand is that he refrains from hearing the cases related to our chairman,” Hasan said.