SC declines appeal of nomination papers to conduct timely polls

Islamabad: Supreme Court (SC) remarked that we do not want to give an order that would cause delay in the upcoming general elections ahead on February 8, during in a hearing of the case related to approval of nomination papers.

According to the details, Justice Jamal Mandokhail heard the appeal of the candidate from PP-224 in which the Special Secretary Election Commission appeared in the court.

The court said that the petitioner delayed by 12 days in filing the appeal, if the appeal had been filed on time, permission could have been granted for the elections. 

Justice Jamal asked the Special Secretary why the Election Commission has kept the schedule so short. Election Commission should have known that appeals are also to be filed.

Zafar Iqbal told the court that if the papers are approved at this stage, the elections in the constituency may be delayed, the process of printing of ballot papers has been completed and the process of delivery of ballot papers is going on in many districts.

The Special Secretary told the court that a total of 26 million ballot papers have been printed for 859 constituencies due to the large number of candidates, 2400 tons of paper was required for the ballot papers, the size of the ballot paper has been reduced to meet the paper requirement.

Later, the court dismissed the appeal filed for approval of the nomination papers of the candidate from PP-224.