Islamabad: The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musrat Hilali, dismissed on Wednesday the petition related to the annulment of the general elections held on February 8. Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on the petitioner, Brigadier (Rtd) Ali Khan, for non-appearance.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Brigadier Ali Khan did not appear in court, even during the initial hearing on February 19. Expressing displeasure at the petitioner’s absence, Chief Justice Isa ordered the Station House Officer (SHO) of the concerned police station to arrest the petitioner and present him in court. The registrar’s office was also instructed to contact the petitioner.
In the recent hearing, the Additional Attorney General informed the court that the police visited Ali Khan’s residence, and sent a notice through the Ministry of Defense, but found him absent. Consequently, a notice was affixed to his gate. The Additional Attorney General added that Ali Khan, a former Brigadier, had faced a court-martial in 2012.
Despite the petitioner’s plea to declare the elections null and void, the Supreme Court rejected the petition and imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on Brigadier Ali Khan. It’s worth noting that the address provided by the petitioner in his application corresponds to the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) in Islamabad.
According to Colonel Retired Inam-ul-Rahim, a lawyer specializing in cases of enforced disappearances, Brigadier Ali Khan had previously faced a court-martial for charges related to inciting mutiny in the army and usurping power, resulting in his conviction.
