ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that objections to the delimitations cannot be raised after the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming general elections. The three-member bench, led by interim Chief Justice Sardar Tariq, addressed an appeal by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the Balochistan High Court’s decision to alter the delimitations carried out by the ECP.
The Supreme Court upheld the ECP’s appeal and nullified the Balochistan High Court’s decision on delimitation. Any challenges to the delimitations conducted by the ECP will not be entertained by courts across the country, preventing potential delays in the electoral process.
This development follows a previous Supreme Court decision that overturned the Lahore High Court’s order, which had halted the training of returning officers, signaling the possibility of election postponement. Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa directed the electoral body to announce the election schedule, putting an end to uncertainties surrounding the polls.
Regarding the ECP’s petition, the Supreme Court ruled that the Lahore High Court should not conduct further hearings on petitions related to the appointment of polling officers. Any matters concerning this issue should be referred to the Supreme Court.
The Lahore High Court’s decision, prompted by a plea from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Umair Niazi, had suspended the ECP’s decision to appoint returning officers and district returning officers from the executive branch.
Following the Supreme Court’s decisions, the ECP released the awaited schedule for the general polls and resumed the training for returning officers and district returning officers in line with the court’s verdict.
The electoral landscape faced uncertainty when the 15th National Assembly was dissolved three days before completing its five-year term, following the advice of then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The premature dissolution aimed to schedule elections 90 days later in accordance with the Constitution. However, delays occurred as the ECP had to work on fresh delimitation after the Council of Common Interests approved the 2023 digital census results.
Despite the ECP’s initial announcement of polls in January without specifying the date, concerns were raised. The Supreme Court intervened on a plea from the PTI and others, directing the ECP and the president to consult and agree on a consensus date, resulting in February 8.
