Supreme Court to hear plea seeking to declare Feb 8 polls null and void on Monday

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has scheduled a hearing for the plea seeking the annulment of the 2024 general election.

A three-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazahir, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will convene on February 19 to deliberate on the matter.

The petition, filed by a private petitioner, alleges violations of electoral integrity and democratic norms during the February 8 general elections. It urges the top court to nullify the election results and order new elections under the direct supervision of the judiciary within 30 days to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Following the recent election, independent candidates supported by a jailed former prime minister secured the largest number of seats, winning 92 out of 264 seats in the National Assembly. However, none of the major political parties, including PML-N, PPP, or PTI-backed independent candidates, obtained a simple majority.

This situation has cast uncertainty over Pakistan's political landscape, prompting legal challenges and calls for electoral reform.