Justice Anwar Hussain of the Lahore High Court has ruled that election tribunals have the power to restore appeals dismissed due to the absence of parties. This important decision was made while hearing a case involving independent candidate Muhammad Yar.
The judge issued a detailed 16-page verdict on the appeal filed by Muhammad Yar against PML-N’s Naveed Aslam from constituency PP-201. The appeal was earlier dismissed in December 2024 because both the petitioner and his lawyer did not appear in court.
However, the tribunal reinstated the appeal and called lawyers for both sides to attend the next hearing. The ruling highlighted that the Election Act and previous court decisions empower tribunals to restore dismissed appeals.
The court noted that Muhammad Yar’s lawyer was engaged at the Multan bench on the hearing day, and the petitioner was suffering from a lung infection supported by a medical certificate. The judgment also mentioned that harsh winter conditions made travel hard, especially for those with respiratory issues.
An affidavit supporting the restoration request strengthened the case. As a result, the tribunal restored the appeal and postponed further proceedings until August 26.
Muhammad Yar had filed the petition challenging the election win of PML-N’s Naveed Aslam, making this ruling significant for future election disputes and tribunal powers.