CJP insists on hearing polls annulment plea after petitioner backs out

Despite the fact that the man who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC), seeking annulment of the general elections held on February 8 due to complaints of rigging, withdrew his petition on Monday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa insisted he would still hear the case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

“Bring the petitioner back. Dial the cellphone number he has given on his application. We will hear the plea,” the CJP ordered the SHO of the concerned police station after the petitioner did not show up in court.   

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by the CJP, and also comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Halali, had been constituted to hear the petition filed by a retired brigadier, Ali Khan.

Calling withdrawal of the petition a ‘joke’, CJP Isa remarked that he would not allow this to happen again. “Do these people file petitions just for the sake of publicity,” he said.

“Such a prank cannot be played on the Supreme Court. Bring the petitioner from wherever and present him before the court,” Justice Isa remarked, adding that the bench would hear the petition.

Justice Mazhar, on the occasion, said that just a day after filing a petition, Ali Khan informed the court on February 13 that he was taking his plea back.

The chief justice said moreover the name of the lawyer was also not mentioned on his application. “Petitions are filed the world over, but never have they received media coverage like in Pakistan,” he said, and added, “But in this case, the day the petition was filed, it went on air on TV channels.”

Justice Isa said the court had been told that when Ali Khan’s cellphone number was dialled, it was switched off.

A notice was issued to the petitioner through the Ministry of Defence.

The chief justice then adjourned the case’s hearing until February 21.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori