SC rejects petitions seeking to declare 2013 elections null and void

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Wednesday dismissed all three petitions challenging the 2013 general elections.

A three member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ijaz Chaudhry heard the case today.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk remarked how the petitioners will prove that pre-election arrangements were based on ill-intent. He further stated that the petitions were not maintainable and were only a pile of accusations that could not be considered as record and that it was not the court’s responsibility to launch investigation by considering the allegations as facts.

The Supreme Court had earlier accepted three petitions challenging the 2013 general elections and requesting the court to declare them null and void. The elections were challenged by former SC Justice (retd) Muhammad Akhtar Siddiqui, former interior minister Mian Zahid Sarfaraz and a citizen Dawood Ghaznavi.

The petitions stated the 2013 elections should be declared null and void due to the faulty magnetic ink used by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and rigging. The petitions called on the apex court to order new elections.