ISLAMABAD: In the latest development regarding the petition on reserved seats by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has appended an additional note to the case concerning reserved seats, highlighting grave concerns over the transparency of the general elections.
The note draws attention to arguments presented by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which have raised significant questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
Justice Minallah’s note points out that a major political party was disqualified based on a misinterpretation of the Supreme Court’s decision, effectively excluding it from the electoral process and depriving voters of their fundamental rights.
The note underscores that the Supreme Court’s original decision was not intended to disqualify any party, indicating that the misinterpretation has resulted in unintended and far-reaching consequences.
This misinterpretation potentially disenfranchised voters by denying them the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate from the disqualified party. Justice Minallah further emphasized the importance of ensuring a level playing field for all political parties during elections.
The judge also noted that the Commission’s counsel raised crucial issues related to fundamental human rights during their arguments. These concerns underscore the necessity of a transparent and impartial electoral process.
Justice Minallah has urged the electoral watchdog to submit records of complaints pertaining to the provision of a level playing field.
Additionally, the note proposes that the court should consider allegations of election rigging within the framework of the reserved seats case. This broadens the scope of the case to potentially address wider issues concerning the fairness of the entire electoral process.
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