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In a significant blow to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Lahore High Court (LHC) benches have overturned the election victories of two of its lawmakers. The courts set aside the victory notifications of PML-N lawmakers from Gujranwala and Lodhran, while suspending the victory notification of another PML-N member from Nankana Sahib.
The ruling party’s loss of two National Assembly seats comes amid a flurry of legal challenges and electoral disputes. The Lahore High Court’s decision to overturn the victory notifications follows separate petitions filed against the PML-N lawmakers.
In the case of NA-81 (Gujranwala), the LHC ruled in favor of a petition filed by an independent candidate backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The court found that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had violated legal procedures by allowing a recount of votes after the formation of election tribunals.
Similarly, in NA-154 (Lodhran), the LHC bench declared the victory notification of PML-N lawmaker Abdul Rehman Kanjoo null and void, awarding victory to the petitioner, a PTI-backed candidate.
Meanwhile, PML-N’s victory notification for NA-133 (Nankana Sahib) was suspended by the LHC on a petition filed by a PTI-backed independent candidate. The court ordered a stay on the notification and sought a response from the ECP.
In a separate development, incarcerated PTI leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid challenged former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s victory from Lahore’s NA-130 constituency before an LHC election tribunal. Rashid alleged irregularities in the electoral process and accused the ECP of manipulating election results to ensure her defeat.
These legal challenges and electoral disputes underscore the contentious nature of Pakistan’s political landscape, with parties vying for power amidst accusations of electoral malpractice and procedural violations. As the legal battles continue, the outcomes of these cases could have far-reaching implications for the country’s political future.
