Political Parties’ Petitions with Election Tribunals February 2015 Update

Only six cases were decided by the election tribunals in January 2015 bringing the total number of decided cases to 364 out of 411  (338 out of 385 by the tribunals and 26 by the ECP itself). On the other hand, 47 petitions are still awaiting decisions. The ECP constituted 14 tribunals across the country to redress election-related complaints following the 2013 General Elections. The three tribunals in Balochistan decided all the petitions to become the first and only province whose tribunals have finished their tasks.

The ECP constituted 14 tribunals across the country to redress election-related complaints following the 2013 General Elections. The three tribunals in Balochistan decided all the petitions to become the first and
only province whose tribunals have finished their tasks. The Tribunal at Dera Ismail Khan has also finished its work. Sukkur Tribunal has also ceased working as its remaining cases have been transferred to Karachi
Tribunal after refusal of its Presiding Officer to accept further extension in his contract after June 30, 2014.

The ECP has extended the term of contract of presiding officers of Peshawar & Abbottabad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan & Bahawalpur (Punjab) and Hyderabad & Karachi (Sindh) for the third time till February 28, 2015 after expiry of their term on December 31, 2014. Of the 364 cases, 154 (128 by the tribunals and 26 by the ECP itself) have been dismissed on grounds of technical deficiencies, implying that the merits of the petitions were not adjudicated on. Forty-three petitions have been accepted; 25 dismissed due to non-prosecution; 30 dismissed as withdrawn and 110 dismissed after complete trial. The reasons for dismissal of two petitions are not known to FAFEN due to non-availability of their copies of orders despite continuous efforts to obtain them.

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