Maps
Magazine

POLITICS & POLICY MAKING

Election Tribunal Rejects Petition Against Maryam Nawaz’s PP-159 Victory
An election tribunal has dismissed a PTI-backed candidate’s petition challenging CM Maryam Nawaz’s PP-159 win, citing lack of evidence & procedural flaws.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-03
Election Tribunal Rejects Petition Against Maryam Nawaz’s PP-159 Victory

An election tribunal has dismissed a petition filed against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s victory from PP-159 Lahore, rejecting allegations of result manipulation and procedural irregularities.

The petition was filed by Mehar Sharafat, a PTI-backed independent candidate, who claimed that based on Form 45 results, he had initially emerged victorious in the February 8 general elections. Sharafat alleged that the outcome was later altered through the manipulation of Form 47, which led to Maryam Nawaz being declared the winning candidate.

The tribunal, presided over by retired Justice Rana Zahid Mahmood, issued its order on October 21, dismissing the petition. The order stated that the petitioner’s counsel presented “very short arguments” and that the claims of “corruption and corrupt practices” were general in nature and lacked substantial legal backing.

The tribunal further pointed out procedural errors and deficiencies in the verification and attestation process within the petition, emphasizing that no strong evidence had been presented to justify overturning the election result.

In the February 8 polls, Maryam Nawaz secured 23,598 votes, while Mehar Sharafat received 21,491 votes. Following the tribunal’s decision, Sharafat issued a public challenge to the chief minister, vowing to pay Rs20 million, apologize publicly, and quit politics if she could prove her victory was legitimate and his defeat valid.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Observer Group—in its final report released nearly 11 months after Pakistan’s 2024 general elections—stated that key institutional decisions had “impinged on the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness” of the polls. The group concluded that the PTI was disproportionately affected, facing restrictions that created an “unlevel playing field” during and after the election process.

The report serves as a detailed assessment of the electoral process, covering pre-election conditions, polling-day management, and post-election legal proceedings, underscoring ongoing debates about electoral integrity and political fairness in Pakistan.
Tagged:

MaryamNawaz

PunjabPolitics

ElectionTribunal

PP159
Share News: