Qaseem Shah: The Balochistan High Court has upheld the candidacy and election of Aimal Wali Khan as a Senator from Balochistan, dismissing the constitutional petition filed against him as inadmissible.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Gul Hassan Tareen announced the verdict, ruling that Aimal Wali Khan’s nomination and election were in accordance with constitutional and legal requirements.
The petitioners had argued that Aimal Wali Khan was not a registered voter of Balochistan and that his nomination was therefore unlawful. However, the court noted that Aimal Wali Khan’s national identity card was issued with a Balochistan address, and his name is listed in the Quetta constituency voter list.
According to the court, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a certificate on March 15, 2024, confirming his voter registration in Balochistan. The petitioners, however, failed to provide any evidence proving the registration was illegal.
The High Court further observed that under Sections 26 and 27 of the Election Act, 2017, a person’s address and inclusion in the voter list are sufficient to establish residency. It added that an individual’s CNIC and voter registration serve as valid proof of residence.
The court concluded that Aimal Wali Khan is eligible to contest the Senate election from Balochistan, and that his election is fully constitutional and lawful.
The Election Commission of Pakistan also stated that once the electoral process is completed, any objections can only be raised before the Election Tribunal, as constitutional petitions cannot be used to challenge election results.
The court also held that Aimal Wali Khan meets the requirements set forth in Article 62 of the Constitution, and that his nomination papers were duly scrutinized and accepted under Section 110 of the Election Act, 2017.
Verdict Summary:
- Aimal Wali Khan’s Senate election stands valid and constitutional.
- Petition declared inadmissible by Balochistan High Court.
- ECP confirms lawful voter registration in Quetta.
- Election disputes fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Election Tribunal.
