Following allegations of electoral manipulation and delayed disclosure, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finally made Form 45 available on its official website. This release follows a period of intense legal scrutiny and public outcry over the ECP’s failure to promptly publish crucial electoral documents.
The publication of Form 45, alongside Forms 46, 48, and 49, comes in response to a directive from the Islamabad High Court, prompted by a petition filed by lawyers representing Majlis Wahdat al-Muslimeen (MWM). The MWM had contested the ECP’s delay in uploading essential forms, particularly Form 45 and 47, which are mandated by the Election Act to be made available within a specific timeframe after general elections.
During the court proceedings led by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court, MWM’s legal team, including Iman Zainab Mazari and Abdul Hadi Chattah, argued vigorously for adherence to the legal requirement of uploading forms within 14 days following elections.
Chief Justice Aamir Farooq stressed the importance of addressing objections before moving forward, emphasizing the necessity of due process in legal matters.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, the leader of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, underscored the timely release of electoral documents as crucial for upholding the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, ensuring the people’s mandate is respected.
The delayed release of these forms had drawn widespread criticism, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. The eventual release of Form 45, which provides detailed data on polling station results, is expected to offer greater clarity and understanding of the election outcome.
