In order to de-deat NA-262 Quetta MNA Adil Bazai, the SC suspends the ECP ruling.

Adil Bazai, a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) elected from NA-262 Quetta, was deposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), but the Supreme Court has halted this order. The court reinstated his membership by issuing a stay order.
The appeal against the November 21 ECP ruling by Adil Bazai was considered by a three-member court presided over by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. According to Taimoor Aslam, Bazai’s attorney, his client was disqualified under Article 63(A) without conducting a thorough investigation or receiving a summons from the ECP.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked if the ECP could take action on a topic that was already in litigation and how the ECP could assert jurisdiction over it. When questioned about whether the ECP could look into claims of fraud, Justice Ayesha Malik pointed out that Bazai had signed two affidavits and asserted that the second one was authentic.

A prior ruling on reserved seats was cited by Taimoor Aslam throughout the hearing. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, smiling, asked if the lawyer genuinely intended to rely on that verdict. Justice Ayesha Malik queried whether the reserved seats decision applied to the current case and if Bazai was part of the list of 81 members related to that ruling.

The court noted that the ECP does not have jurisdiction over a candidate’s party affiliation; rather, civil courts have. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah emphasised the gravity of removing someone from the assembly, stressing that all aspects must be carefully reviewed.

Notices for a hearing on December 12 were sent by the Supreme Court to the ECP and other parties. It also released a written order summarising today’s proceedings.