Tribunals dispose of 355 petitions,find no systematic rigging

ISLAMABAD: Like never before, the election tribunals set-up after May 2013 general elections have disposed of 355 of the total 387 election petitions filed by losing candidates of the national and provincial assemblies all over Pakistan but there is not even a single case of “systematic rigging”.
Election Commission of Pakistan sources said that this is a remarkable performance of the Election Tribunals, adding that except a few, the remaining pending cases have been delayed because of stay orders and not owing to any lapse on part of the tribunals.
These sources informed that as a consequence of Election Petitions, a small number of candidates has been disqualified mainly because of concealment of assets, wrong declarations or fake degrees. There is perhaps only one case where the elections have been nullified because of rigging.
Following May 2013 general elections, a total of 387 election petitions were filed before the Election Tribunals by losing candidates belonging to different political parties. These petitions include the election disputes of all national and provincial assemblies.
It is said that out of 387 election petitions, 355 cases have already been disposed of. A total of 166 petitions were filed in Punjab, out of which 141 have already been decided by the tribunals. In Sindh, a total of 91 petitions were filed, out of which 87 have been settled.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the number of election petitions filed was 70. Out of these petitions, 67 cases have already been disposed of by the tribunals. In Balochistan, all the petitions filed have been disposed of. Sixty election petitions were filed in election tribunals in Balochistan.
Out of the 32 petitions, which are still pending before the election tribunals, most are being delayed owing to the stay orders obtained from high courts.
The ECP sources said that this is the best ever performance of the tribunals. It is added that the tribunals showed this result despite the fact that their working have been hampered by stay orders obtained by different parties or by getting dragged into time taking process of verification of votes by Nadra.
The Election Commission sources informed that while the post 2013 tribunals showed “exemplary” performance, there are still over two dozen election petitions of 2002 and 2008 elections pending in different high courts.
It is said that in more than 100 cases, polling bags were opened for recounting, scrutiny and inspection of record, Nadra verification of votes but nowhere any allegation of “systemic rigging” has been found.
Of late, the question of “systematic rigging” has been referred to the judicial commission, which is now in the process of collecting evidence to find what has not been found by any of the tribunals in over 300 election cases.