ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit reports of NA-125 and NA-154 for non-disposal of election appeals pending before election tribunals (ETs) of Lahore and Multan.
The court also sought a report from the ECP Secretary for non-compliance of its orders for conducting free, fair and transparent elections in the country within fortnight.
The three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, however, did not accept the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for the verification of voters' thumb impressions in four constituencies of Punjab.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in his petition, held that the apex court's directives for holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country had not been followed during the May 2013 general elections.
During the course of proceedings, Hamid Khan, counsel for the PTI Chairman, argued that the apex court should exercise its powers as all the major parties were levelling allegations of rigging in the elections.
He pleaded that it was also a matter of fundamental rights and the court should take notice of alleged rigging under Article 184(3) of the Constitution and direct the authorities concerned for verification of thumb impressions in NA-110 Sialkot, NA-122 Lahore, NA-125 Lahore, and NA-154 Lodhran.
He apprised the court that the PTI had adopted a legal way and lodged complaints of alleged rigging with election tribunals.
Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan remarked that under the Constitution, complaints could be launched at a proper forum within certain time.
However, Hamid Khan alleged that the PTI had to approach the apex court as their cases were not dealt with on merit by the proper forums.
Justice Khan raised the question of Supreme Court's jurisdiction and maintainability of the application when proper constitutional forums were there to deal with such matters.
When the PTI Chairman PTI sought permission to present his stance, the Chief Justice allowed him to only speak on the matter from constitutional point of view.
Imran Khan stated that the petition pertained to fundamental rights and the demand for verification of voters' thumb impressions in four constituencies was made to save the sanctity of vote.
He apprised the court that some 400 applications of the PTI were still pending before the election tribunals.
The Chief Justice appreciated the role of Imran Khan being an uncontroversial man in cricket, who had "brought good name to the country". However, if the court allowed his petition, there would be hundreds to follow, therefore it would have to lay down parameters, he observed.
The court, later in its order, directed the Secretary ECP to submit para-wise comments and sought reports from election tribunals of Lahore and Multan for non-compliance of its directives regarding NA-125 and NA-154. The case was adjourned for a fortnight.
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