On the directives of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the election tribunals have expedited the disposal of election related disputes- bringing the total number of decided cases to 385 out of 411 total complaints. Most important ruling of an election tribunal was in favour of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, announcing the re-election in the coveted NA 125, and PP 155 Cantt constituencies of Lahore.
Among the 385 decided cases, 359 decided by the tribunals and 26 disposed by ECP out of 411, claims Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Of the 385 cases, 155 (129 by the tribunals and 26 by the ECP) have been dismissed on technical deficiencies, implying that the merits of the petitions were not adjudicated, 49 petitions have been accepted, 25 dismissed due to non-prosecution, 31 dismissed as withdrawn and 123 dismissed after complete trial. The reasons for dismissal of two petitions are not known.
According to FAFEN, the current pace of the tribunals' proceedings has delayed the decisions of 26 petitions beyond the legally-stipulated deadline of disposing of the petitions within 120 days of receipt. The ECP constituted 14 tribunals across the country to redress election complaints following the 2013 General Elections. The election results were officially notified on May 22, 2013, following which the candidates had to submit their petitions till July 6.
The ECP received a total of 411 petitions, out of which 26 were dismissed by the commission itself while the remaining 385 were referred to the tribunals. The tribunals have so far decided 359 petitions, while 26 cases are still awaiting decision. Most of the petitions were moved by contesting candidates, while three petitions were filed by voters. Independent candidates filed a total of 99 petitions, followed by PML-N members who filed 66 petitions including 12 against PTI and 14 against PPPP.
PTI filed a total of 58 petitions including 43 against winning candidates of the ruling PML-N and only one against PPPP. In addition, PPPP members filed 50 petitions which included 19 against PML-N and only one against PTI. The petitions were moved on single or multiple grounds and sought single or multiple reliefs. A majority of the petitions challenged the nomination or qualification of returned candidates, with the additional ground of use of corrupt practices to sway the elections.
There were 38 petitions challenging the nomination process and another 92 challenging the qualification of returned candidates. More than half (212 or 55%) of the petitions, made allegations of corrupt practices employed by returned candidates, while almost three-fourth (280 or 73%) of the petitions accused other personnel, including election officials of malpractice.
The petitioners in 248 cases sought declaration to the effect that the election of the winning candidate to be declared void and the petitioner be declared returned candidate instead. As many as 122 petitions sought disqualification of the returned candidates and re-polling in the entire constituency. Another 91 petitions sought recounting of ballots for the entire or parts of the constituency, while 42 demanded re-examination of excluded ballots. Fifty-seven petitions sought re-polling at certain polling stations, while 71 petitions sought other reliefs from the tribunals.
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