ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to Prime Minister Imran Khan on a petition filed by former speaker of the National Assembly and PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq against the decision of the election tribunal that had invalidated the latter’s election victory from the NA-122 constituency of Lahore in the 2013 general elections.

Mr Sadiq defeated Mr Khan in NA-122 in the 2013 elections after which the PTI chief had challenged the results.

The election tribunal had on Aug 15, 2015, ordered re-polling in NA-122, declaring the 2013 election in the constituency null and void. However, in the re-election on the seat two months later, Mr Sadiq won again, this time defeating PTI’s Aleem Khan.

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial noted that the case was related to the 2013 elections, adding that the term of those polls had already ended.

To this, Mr Sadiq’s lawyer said his client was fined unjustly.

Mr Sadiq told the court that he had been asked to pay for the expenses incurred in the inspection of the Nadra (National Database and Registration Authority) records and other documents related to the case.

After hearing arguments, the apex court issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Nadra and the prime minister and sought their responses.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2022