Election tribunals clear 2/3 of pleas
More than two years after the February 2024 general elections, election tribunals across Pakistan have disposed of nearly two-thirds of election petitions, while 128 cases are still awaiting adjudication, according to the latest update issued by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
In its ninth update on election tribunals, FAFEN said that by the end of April 2026, tribunals had decided 246 out of 374 petitions filed against the results of the 2024 elections in National Assembly and provincial assembly constituencies.
The report noted that 73 out of 124 petitions relating to National Assembly seats and 173 out of 250 petitions concerning provincial assembly constituencies had been disposed of so far.
The watchdog noted that under Section 142 of the Elections Act, candidates may challenge election results within 45 days of the gazette notification of a returned candidate, while Section 148(5) requires tribunals to decide each petition within 180 days of filing.
However, the legally prescribed deadline for disposal expired in October 2024.
The organisation observed that tribunal proceedings continuing beyond the statutory period are subject to special conditions, including mandatory payment of costs for adjournments, recorded reasons where tribunals adjourn matters on their own motion and the possible suspension of assembly membership where delays are attributable to returned candidates.
FAFEN further pointed to a visible slowdown in the pace of adjudication over recent months. According to the report, 171 petitions had been decided by July 31, 2025, when FAFEN released its eighth update, but only 75 additional petitions were decided during the following nine months, averaging eight decisions per month. This, the report said, was lower than the average of 10 petitions decided monthly between February 2024 and July 2025.
The report also highlighted significant provincial disparities in disposal rates. Balochistan recorded the highest rate, with 49 out of 52 petitions decided, amounting to 94 per cent.
Punjab followed with 147 out of 192 petitions disposed of, or 77 per cent, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw 26 out of 43 petitions decided, equivalent to 60 per cent.
Sindh recorded the lowest disposal rate among the provinces, with only 24 out of 84 petitions decided, or 29 per cent.
FAFEN noted that none of the petitions relating to Islamabad constituencies had been disposed of due to ongoing litigation concerning the transfer of election petitions from one tribunal to another.
The report further stated that 123 out of the 246 tribunal decisions had been challenged before the Supreme Court. Of these, the apex court has so far decided 18 appeals, fully or partially accepting three and dismissing 15, while 105 appeals remain pending.
Commenting on transparency and public access, FAFEN said access to tribunal proceedings and records remained uneven across the country.