Islamabad, February 9, 2025: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) reported on Sunday that election tribunals have so far decided on only 30% of the total election petitions, leaving 70% of cases unresolved. The slow progress continues to raise concerns about the efficiency of the electoral dispute resolution process.
According to the latest FAFEN report, three tribunals resolved nine petitions, while tribunals in Bahawalpur and Karachi each delivered verdicts on one petition. Among the 11 cases decided in January, six were filed by independent candidates backed by the PTI, four by the PML-N, and one by the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).
As of January 2025, tribunals had ruled on 112 election petitions, with 11 verdicts delivered that month alone. However, all 11 cases were dismissed, signaling a trend where election-related disputes continue to be rejected rather than resolved in favor of petitioners. FAFEN noted that Punjab’s legal challenges have led to improved decision-making speed, but overall progress remains sluggish.
The tribunal breakdown by province is as follows:
- Balochistan: 41 out of 51 petitions decided
- Punjab: 45 out of 192 petitions resolved
- Sindh: 17 out of 83 petitions settled
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 9 out of 42 petitions ruled on
For National Assembly seats, verdicts have been issued in 25 out of 123 cases, while 87 out of 248 petitions concerning provincial assembly seats have been decided. Meanwhile, 38 appeals challenging the election tribunals’ rulings have reached the Supreme Court, with 24 from Balochistan, 10 from Punjab, and four from Sindh.
The Supreme Court has so far ruled on three appeals, accepting one and rejecting two. Overall, 108 of the 112 election petitions have been dismissed, with only three accepted. Additionally, one case was dismissed following the petitioner’s death, and re-polling has been ordered for three Balochistan Assembly seats.
With a significant backlog of pending cases, FAFEN’s findings highlight the urgent need for judicial efficiency in resolving electoral disputes to uphold the credibility of Pakistan’s democratic process.
