Here are the key points from the Supreme Court’s disposal of the plea seeking to declare the February 8 general elections void and null:
- The petitioner, Ali Khan, failed to attend two consecutive hearings.
- Ali Khan had urged the apex court to order new elections within 30 days under judicial supervision for fairness.
- The SC described the filing and withdrawal of the petition as an abuse of the court process.
- Despite being absent, Ali Khan sent an email stating he was abroad and requested to withdraw the plea.
- The SC disposed of the plea and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on Ali Khan for non-attendance.
- The petition alleged pre-poll rigging, election fraud, and misconduct, calling for a thorough investigation.
- It claimed PTI faced obstacles and restrictions in campaign efforts and was deprived of its fundamental rights.
- The delay in result announcements and revelation of widespread rigging undermined the election’s credibility.
- Allowing alleged perpetrators of electoral malpractice to ascend to power undermines democracy and national stability.
