LHC’s Justice Shahid Karim recuses himself from hearing election tribunals case

LAHORE – Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court has recused himself from further proceedings on a petition challenging the presidential ordinance that allows retired judges to serve on election tribunals alongside serving judges.

On May 28, Acting President Yousuf Raza Gilani signed the Elections Act (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, into law, allowing retired judges to serve on election tribunals alongside current judges.

On Tuesday (today), as the proceedings began, Justice Karim recused himself from further hearings and forwarded the case file to Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan.

At the previous hearing, the lawyer representing the federation opposed the petition filed against the presidential ordinance by a citizen, Mashkoor Hussain, who had been instructed by the court to prepare arguments.

The petitioner named the federal government and the Law Ministry as respondents in his plea.

The petitioner claims that the presidential ordinance was made in bad faith and that it cannot be applied to the 2024 general elections in light of the recent high court decision on election tribunal appointment.

The petitioner requests that the court declare the presidential ordinance illegal and unconstitutional.