A private petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on Monday to declare the Feb 8 general elections null and void due to alleged violations of democratic norms and electoral integrity.

Filed by an individual named Ali Khan, the petition urged the court to order new elections within 30 days to be held under the direct supervision and oversight of the judiciary “to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability”.

It also sought a stay order to stop the formation of a new government till the case was decided.

The petition pleaded that the court should order “a thorough and impartial investigation” into the alleged pre-poll rigging, election fraud and misconduct and hold accountable those responsible for undermining the democratic foundations of the nation.

The imprisonment of PTI founder Imran Khan over “fabricated charges” and the subsequent act of depriving the party of its electoral symbol “sev­er­ely undermined the democratic process”.

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