LAHORE – The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging ‘none of the above’ option in the ballot paper. When hearing started, a law officer of the Election Commission of Pakistan appeared and informed the court that the decision of ‘none of the above’ option in the ballot paper had been withdrawn by the ECP.
At this, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah dismissed the petition for being in fructuous.
The petition was moved by Rana Saeed by submitting the blank section in the ballot paper was contrary to democratic principles and the constitution. The decision aimed to denigrate candidates taking part in the elections. He also added that for this purpose, new ballot papers would be published which would cause a loss of billions to the national exchequer. He said by giving option to the voter to stamp the empty box in the ballot paper, there was possibility of rejection of all candidates and reelection would be needed.