The Supreme Court has ruled that the people’s vote is final and cannot be altered by returning officers (ROs), reinforcing that election results must strictly reflect the mandate recorded at polling stations.
Voter Mandate Holds Supreme Authority
According to Beyond Time News, the court ruled that an administrative officer cannot change or reinterpret the public mandate. Election results, it stated, must be based strictly on verified polling records.
The judgment emphasized that Forms-45, prepared at polling stations, are the most reliable evidence of votes and must form the basis of result consolidation.
No Room for Interference
The court warned that any interference in the consolidation of results amounts to a serious violation, as it can directly affect the final outcome of an election.
According to Beyond Time News, such actions undermine transparency and erode public trust in the electoral process. The court also reiterated the Election Commission of Pakistan’s responsibility to ensure fair and transparent elections.
Discrepancies in Election Records
The judgment identified inconsistencies between official documents, noting that Forms-45 and the ECP portal showed a consistent result, while Form-48 prepared by the RO reflected altered figures.
The court ruled that these were not clerical errors but substantive changes affecting the outcome.
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Limited Role of Returning Officers
The court clarified that ROs are only responsible for compiling results from polling data and have no authority to modify them.
According to Beyond Time News, any correction must follow proper legal procedures such as recounting or rectification of genuine errors. Unauthorized changes were declared unlawful.
NA-251 Result Restored
After reviewing the record, the court set aside the election tribunal’s decision and upheld the petition based on verified Forms-45.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has been directed to notify the appellant as the returned candidate from NA-251 (Sherani-cum-Zhob-cum-Killa Saifullah).
Conclusion
According to Beyond Time News, the ruling strengthens a key democratic principle: elections must reflect the true will of the people through transparent and lawful procedures, without interference or manipulation.
