Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday rejected a petition by Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party challenging former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani's upset win in the Senate elections, ruling that it was not appropriate to "unnecessarily drag" the judiciary in political matters.
The Opposition had demanded the prime minister's resignation after the debacle following which Khan decided to take a vote of confidence on Saturday which he won comfortably.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was hearing a plea by PTI lawmaker Ali Nawaz who alleged that Gilani, 68, was elected through vote-buying.
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IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah after hearing initial arguments directed the petitioner to use the platform of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) where the case is already under hearing.
The court ruled that "it is not appropriate to unnecessarily drag the judiciary in political matters" and subsequently dismissed the plea.
Pakistan's Opposition parties on Monday nominated Gilani as their joint candidate for the Senate chairman election scheduled for later this week.
The selection of Gilani as a nominee for the post came as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday refused to take action on the allegations of vote-buying in the recent Senate elections just based on video clips unless those involved in offering and getting bribes were named.
The petition was filed in the ECP on Friday on behalf of advocate Azhar Siddiq, stating that Gilani's victory in the Senate polls should be declared null and void as the elections were not transparent.