LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – The Lahore High Court has declared the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to annul the elections of the Islamabad Cricket Association as illegal, ruling that election results cannot be set aside merely on allegations and without hearing the elected representatives.
The verdict was announced by Justice Javed Iqbal Wains, who accepted the constitutional petition filed by petitioner Shakeel Ahmad Sheikh and issued a detailed 32-page written judgment.
The court set aside the decision of the PCB adjudicator dated May 27, 2025, and restored Shakeel Ahmad Sheikh as the president of the Islamabad Cricket Association.
In its detailed ruling, the court observed that the adjudicator failed to follow basic legal requirements while deciding the case, and did not properly hear the parties or examine evidence. It noted that important legal objections were ignored and the decision was issued without recording proper evidence, which was against the principles of justice.
The court further held that no electoral process can be annulled solely on allegations, and that the rights of elected office holders cannot be affected without giving them a fair hearing. It emphasized that all stakeholders must be included before any election is declared void, which was not done in this case.
According to the judgment, Shakeel Ahmad Sheikh was elected unopposed as president of the Islamabad Cricket Association in 2023, but the PCB had allegedly restrained elected office holders from exercising their authority.
The court directed the PCB to ensure a transparent electoral process in future, including proper preparation of voter lists, verification of club status and voter eligibility in accordance with rules. It also instructed the adjudicator to hear all parties and consider evidence before issuing any decision.
The court further observed that the PCB is a body with legal and constitutional jurisdiction, and therefore its decisions are subject to judicial review.