Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP's decision
Pakistan
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court also annulled the ECP’s order of re-polling
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and reinstated Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, also annulled the ECP’s order of re-polling at 12 polling stations of PB 51 Chaman.
Justice Khan asked the ECP counsel under which regulation the commission ordered re-election at 12 polling stations?
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the ECP considered only 12 polling stations but ignored others.
Justice Khan remarked that the ECP had neither conducted an inquiry nor followed any rules. The DG Law submitted that the ECP took into account those 12 polling stations regarding which it had received plea. There was high voter turnout in these 12 polling stations.
Justice Mazhar said the ECP should have taken into account the entire constituency. Had the ECP performed according to rules, people would not have to come to court.
The court referred the case back to the ECP after consulting the parties and ordered the commission to decide the issue within 10 days.
It may be remembered that the ECP had ordered re-polling on the application of Khaliq’s opposing candidate Asghar Khan Achakzai and withdrew the notification of his success. PML-N’s candidate Khaliq challenged the ECP decision.
