ISLAMABAD: The division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprised of Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurezneb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, took a significant step on Monday by suspending the victory notifications issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for PML-N in Islamabad’s NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48 seats.
The suspension specifically pertains to the victory notification of Tariq Fazl Chaudhry in NA-47. This decision follows an intra-court appeal challenging the ruling of single-member IHC CJ Justice Aamir Farooq, who had earlier dismissed the plea seeking to suspend the victory notifications for NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48 constituencies.
Expressing a notable level of concern, the IHC judges raised questions about the authority responsible for issuing these notifications within the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In the elections held on February 8, Tariq Fazl Chaudhry secured 102,502 votes in NA-47, while PTI-backed Shohaib Shaheen received 87,396 votes.
It’s worth noting that ahead of the 2024 elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) strategically changed Tariq Fazal Chaudhry’s constituency in Islamabad. PML-N leader Ishaq Dar revealed that Chaudhry would contest the elections from NA-47, a shift from the initial plan of fielding him in NA-48. Additionally, the PML-N designated Anjum Aqeel Khan as their candidate for NA-46. The legal proceedings surrounding the election results in these constituencies add further complexity to the political landscape.
