The Supreme Court (SC) annulled the decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding the suspension of a returning officer (RO) in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while during the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa said tactics were being deployed to cancel the elections.

On Tuesday, a hearing was held in the Supreme Court on an application of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) requesting the court to annul the Peshawar High Court’s decision regarding the suspension of the RO from Kohat.

During the hearing, CJP Isa remarked that he didn’t understand how decisions were being given, adding that such tactics were being used to ensure elections were not held. “Why don’t we impose exemplary fines on those who file such petitions?” he questioned.

The Supreme Court allowed the election commission's appeal against the suspension of the returning officer and ordered that the ECP re-issue the schedule of scrutiny in the constituency concerned.

During the hearing, CJP Isa, while addressing the lawyer who filed the application in the Peshawar High Court, raised several questions and inquired who the RO will be and what difference it makes to the candidate. He also asked if the RO was a relative of an opposing candidate and if the lawyer wanted his own returning officer. “Was the previous RO changed for good reason or was he really sick?” the CJP asked.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the suspension of the RO will affect the scrutiny of 19 candidates.

The Supreme Court declared that the appointment of the new RO was done by the election commission on proper grounds. The previous returning officer had requested to be changed on medical grounds, but those challenging the appointment of the new RO could not provide any solid reason and the Peshawar High Court issued a stay order without hearing the commission.