Over one-third of 2024 election petitions still pending after two years: FAFEN

More than one-third of election petitions filed after Pakistan’s 2024 general elections remain pending despite the passage of nearly two years, according to a new report released by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The report stated that election tribunals have decided 246 out of a total of 374 election petitions, while 128 cases are still awaiting adjudication.

According to FAFEN, 73 out of 124 petitions related to National Assembly constituencies have been disposed of, while tribunals have decided 173 out of 250 petitions concerning provincial assembly seats.

The organisation noted that delays in disposal of cases have continued despite the expiry of the legal timeframe for deciding election disputes in October 2024.

The report observed that the pace of decisions slowed significantly after July 2025, with only 75 petitions decided since then.

FAFEN highlighted major provincial disparities in the disposal of election petitions.

Balochistan recorded the highest disposal rate, with tribunals deciding 94 percent of election petitions filed in the province.

In Punjab, around 77 percent of petitions have been decided, while the disposal rate stands at 60 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the report, Sindh recorded the lowest disposal rate among the provinces, with only 29 percent of petitions decided so far.

FAFEN further revealed that no election petition from Islamabad has been decided yet.

The report also reviewed appeals filed against election tribunal verdicts in the Supreme Court.

It stated that 123 tribunal decisions had been challenged before the apex court, but only 18 appeals had so far been decided.

Of those 18 appeals, the Supreme Court partially or fully accepted three appeals while dismissing 15 others, the report added.

FAFEN also expressed concern over unequal public access to election tribunal proceedings and records across different provinces.

The organisation stated that access to petitions and tribunal decisions remained limited in Punjab, where only the status of cases was publicly available in many instances.

The report stressed the importance of transparency, timely adjudication and equal public access to tribunal proceedings in order to strengthen confidence in the electoral dispute resolution process.