Chief Justice Faiz Isa’s of the Supreme Court, Justice Faiz Isa, has expressed concerns over the potential abuse of powers if the Parliament grants the right to recount votes in newly enacted laws.
Supreme Court’s Concerns
A three-member bench led by the Chief Justice conducted a hearing on a case related to recounting in NA-154 Lodhran. Advocate Shehzad Shaukat argued that the margin of victory was more than 6,000, with over 7,000 rejected votes. Lawyers representing PML-N suggested that a recount can be requested if the victory margin is less than 5%. However, the Election Commission did not entertain the request due to procedural concerns.
Judicial Review and Future Cases
The Chief Justice emphasized that the Supreme Court is expediting cases related to elections. He noted that delays occur when cases are scheduled for hearings without adequate preparation, resulting in inaccurate numbers not being properly recorded.
Key Points from the Proceedings
Parliamentary Legislation: Justice Faiz Isa expressed concerns over the potential misuse of powers if Parliament grants the right to recount votes in newly enacted laws.
NA-154 Lodhran Case: The Chief Justice headed a 3-member panel that held hearings on recounting in NA-154 Lodhran.
Lawyers’ Arguments: More than 7,000 votes have been discarded, and the triumphing margin was over 6,000.
Recount Criteria: PML-N lawyers suggested a recount could be requested if the victory margin is less than 5%.
Election Commission’s Response: The Commission did not address the recount request due to procedural issues.
Judicial Efficiency: Chief Justice emphasized the need for expedited hearings on election-related cases to prevent delays and ensure accurate record-keeping.
Adjournment: The court adjourned the hearing until July 8 due to procedural issues affecting the accuracy of the number recording.
Justice Faiz Isa highlighted concerns over the potential misuse of parliamentary powers in granting recount rights while the Supreme Court continues to address election-related cases promptly.
