NA-154 Lodhran case: If one case hearing continues for 155 hours, SC to be choked up, says CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa Wednesday remarked that if a case would be heard for 155 hours, the apex court business would be choked.

He was heading a three-member bench hearing the matter pertaining to re-counting of votes in NA-154, Lodhran constituency.

“We are taking up election-related cases early; however, when the cases are scheduled for hearing, there is no preparation [on the part of petitioners and respondents],” he said.

During the hearing, counsel for PMLN candidate Shehzad Shaukat argued that the winning ratio of votes was six. He pointed out that more than 7,000 votes were rejected. He submitted that if the percentage of victory was less than 5pc, then recounting could be done.

He informed the court that the returning officer, in his reply, had stated that due to his busy schedule, he could not pay attention to the request made for re-counting.

Similarly, Advocate Hamid Khan, counsel for the PTI candidate, while arguing in the matter, submitted that the decision to reject the request for re-counting was not challenged.

The chief justice remarked that the right to recount had been given in the law, made by parliament, and questioned as to how come the court could abolish that authority. The CJP said if every case was heard for hours, then the number of pending cases would increase. Later, the court adjourned further hearing until next Monday.