In a significant development, Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court has added an additional note to the case regarding reserved seats, raising serious concerns about the transparency of the general elections.
Justice Minallah’s note draws attention to the arguments presented by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which have brought substantial questions about the fairness of the electoral process to the forefront.
The note highlights that a major political party was disqualified due to a misinterpretation of the Supreme Court’s decision, which effectively excluded it from the electoral process and deprived voters of their fundamental rights.
Justice Minallah emphasizes that the Supreme Court’s original decision did not intend to disqualify any party, suggesting that the misinterpretation has led to unintended and far-reaching consequences.
This misinterpretation potentially disenfranchised voters by denying them the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate from the disqualified party. Justice Minallah also stressed the importance of ensuring a level playing field for all political parties during elections.
The judge further remarked that the Commission’s counsel raised significant issues related to fundamental human rights during their arguments. These concerns underscore the need for a transparent and equitable electoral process.
Justice Minallah has urged the electoral watchdog to submit records of complaints related to the provision of a level playing field.
Additionally, the note suggests that the court should consider the concerns of alleged election rigging within the context of the reserved seats case. This expands the scope of the case to potentially address broader issues related to the fairness of the entire electoral process.
