- Petition on Election Results: A petition was dismissed that sought to declare candidates receiving over 50% of votes as successful in elections. The petitioner, Advocate Chaudhry Akram, was fined Rs 20,000 for filing a “frivolous” case. The bench, including Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, questioned the constitutional basis for such a petition, emphasizing that election results are based on the votes cast, not a fixed percentage threshold. Justice Hilali remarked on the responsibility of voters, noting that many fail to vote despite having the right to do so.
- Independent Candidates’ Party Affiliation: A plea seeking to make it mandatory for independent candidates to join political parties was dismissed as ineffective, as the issue had already been resolved.
- Compliance with Tax Law: A case challenging the Income Levy Tax Act of 2013 was discussed, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) admitting that notices were not sent to several individuals due to incorrect addresses. The court ordered the notices to be published in newspapers to ensure proper compliance.
- Scheduled Hearings: Upcoming cases include:
- A petition from PTI challenging parts of the Sindh Local Government Act 2013 and the Sindh Building Control Ordinance.
- A petition from MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on the 2017 Population Census results.
- Suo motu cases regarding the transfer of Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), drug distribution in schools, and various other public interest matters.
- Several other petitions, including one on child trafficking, seniority of Lahore High Court judges, and the condition of public schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Additional Cases: The bench will also hear petitions on the state of Pakistan’s forests, misuse of foreign aid from the 2005 earthquake, judicial appointments in Sindh, and the implementation of right-to-information laws.
The bench is addressing a range of important constitutional issues, with a focus on electoral laws, tax compliance, governance, and public welfare.
