ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhary Parvez Elahi to contest the upcoming election.
The top court declared the decision of the Election Tribunal to reject the nomination papers of the former Chief Minister as null and void.
A SC three-member bench headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah passed the orders on the appeal moved by Chaudhary Parvez Elahi challenging rejection of his nomination papers during which Parvez Elahi’s lawyer Ehsan Khokhar argued, saying that, “We do not want any delay in the election. My client should be allowed to contest the elections up to the limit of PP-32 Gujrat.”
The court asked the lawyer as how did you get access to the documents of a 10-marla plot to which the lawyer replied that the documents of the 10-marla plot were obtained from the Patwari.
At this Athar remarked, “Are you implying that the caretaker government is involved in this?,”.
During the hearing, the court observed that the voters should not be deprived of their right to vote, the Returning Officer’s job is to facilitate, not to obstruct elections. It’s strange that all this is happening with just one political party.
“The essence of the elections is inclusivity, not exclusion,” remarked the bench.
Justice Mansoor remarked that Article 17 states that without solid reasons, no one can be stopped from participating in the election. The Constitution provided for facilitation, not hindrance, in elections.
The court, while allowing Parvez Elahi’s appeal, declared the decision to reject the nomination papers null and void, and directed the printing of Pervez Elahi’s name and electoral symbol on the ballot paper. However, the former Chief Minister of Punjab withdrew from all other electoral constituencies.
The SC allowed Chaudhry Pervez Elahi to contest elections from the PP-32 Gujrat constituency.
Two days ago, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi challenged the Lahore High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court regarding the rejection of nomination papers.
Parvez Elahi had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to participate in the general elections, in which the Election Commission had constituted an Election Tribunal.
The former Chief Minister of Punjab had requested in the application that the Lahore High Court’s decision of January 13, 2024, be declared null and void.
