The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking a response by Monday regarding the alleged violation of NA-35 Kohat constituency delimitation.
The Chief Justice, Mr. Amir Farooq, has also requested to hear the case.
Barrister Umar EjazGilani, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Gazar, argued that NA-35 Kohat is the largest constituency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with a population exceeding 1.2 million. He compared this constituency with Chitral and Hangu, highlighting their significantly smaller sizes.
Gilani emphasized that the Constitution guarantees equal voting rights for all citizens, but the cost of votes for people in NA-35 is significantly lower compared to smaller constituencies.
Gilani further claimed that the delimitation process violated section 20(3) of the Election Act 2017, which mandates equal population distribution across all constituencies.
He urged the court to take immediate action to rectify this discrepancy.
The IHC has directed the ECP to submit a detailed response by Monday, December 11, 2023.
The hearing of the case is expected to take place shortly after the ECP’s response is received.
The IHC has directed the ECP to submit a detailed response by Monday, December 11, 2023.
The hearing of the case is expected to take place shortly after the ECP’s response is received.
This development comes as a major challenge to the recently finalized constituency delimitation process, raising concerns about potential disparities in voter representation.
The outcome of the IHC’s hearing will be closely watched by political parties and civil society organizations alike.— INP
