Lahore High Court dismisses petition to void 2013 Pakistan General Elections

The Lahore High Court has reportedly dismissed a petition calling for the voiding of the 2013 General Elections in Pakistan. The petition was being heard by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah who gave his final verdict on Thursday.

The court dismissed the case on the basis that the petitioner Mohammad Shabbir did not have any evidence to substantiate his claims, reported the Dawn. The petitioner had argued that after allegations of electoral fraud were leveled by Afzal Khan, former additional secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), it was clear that the last year's polls had not been transparent and that there had been massive rigging as well. On the basis of these arguments, Shabbir had demanded that the 2013 elections should be declared void and fresh elections be held in the country.

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The court however, ruled out a re-election by saying that former additional secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Afzal Khan, who had also alleged electoral fraud earlier, also did not have any proof to back his claims. The decision came a day after the ECP rejected Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) allegations of massive electoral fraud in the 2013 general elections. The PTI has been staging a sit-in in the capital city of Islamabad for the last few days demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the grounds that the 2013 General elections were rigged.

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