ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Thursday overturned the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to disqualify Adil Bazai, a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-262 Quetta-I.
The SC bench headed by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah reinstated Adil Bazai as a member of the National Assembly, marking a major victory for the politician who was elected as an independent candidate and later joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
The apex court was not satisfied with the ECP’s reasoning for disqualifying Adil Bazai, leading to the overturning of the decision. In its short order, the SC overturned the ECP decision and reinstated Adil Bazai as MNA. In their remarks, the judges raised questions about the ECP’s authority, asking if it is above all courts in the country.
“Is the ECP above all courts in the country?” – Justice Ayesha Malik asked, adding it seemed that it the election watchdog disregarded all institutions and laws.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah also expressed concerns, asking if the ECP has the right to conduct trials. He questioned the source of the ECP’s power, stating that it seemed to have taken on the role of a trial court.
“Does the ECP have the right to conduct trials? They (ECP) do not respect courts, magistrates, and do not even conduct inquiries themselves,” Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah remarked. Justice Ayesha Malik also questioned the ECP’s decision-making process, asking how it had verified the authenticity of affidavits submitted to it. She expressed concerns that the Election Commission may be selectively accepting or rejecting affidavits. –Agencies
