Election Tribunal Judge Rana Zahid issued a 24-page detailed judgment, stating that under Section 144 of the Election Act, all legal requirements must be strictly fulfilled at the time of filing an election petition.
Earlier, the tribunal had dismissed Dr Yasmin’s petition. The tribunal observed that the petitioner failed to meet mandatory legal requirements under the Election Act.
It held that Dr Yasmin’s petition did not meet the eligibility criteria laid down under Sections 139, 142, 143, and 144 of the Election Act.
The judgment noted that under the Election Act, prior permission of the tribunal is mandatory to implead any party in an election petition. It further observed that Dr Yasmin’s failed to file the petition within the stipulated time. Nawaz ‘s notification was issued on February 14, but despite the constitution of the tribunal, the petition was not filed within the prescribed period.
The tribunal pointed out that instead of filing the petition before the election tribunal, Dr Yasmin approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Moreover, she did not seek the tribunal’s permission to make the ECP, returning officer, and district returning officer parties to the case, which the tribunal declared illegal and unconstitutional.