A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, announced the verdict and restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from holding re-polling in the constituency on April 10.

The court instructed the ECP not to put the entire electoral process on hold but delay re-polling.

The commission, on February 25th, had ordered re-polling in the entire NA-75 Sialkot after suspected tempering in 20 polling stations results in the original by-polls held on February 19. Clashes between workers of the PTI and the PML-N during polling which resulted in at least two killings.

The ruling Tahreek-e-Insaf's candidate from Daska Asjad Ali Malhi had approached the SC and filed a petition against ECP's decision.

The bench while hearing the petition asked the commission to postpone the re-polls. The bench said the court needed more time to decide the case. "At the moment, we are hearing Salman Akram Raja's [the PML-N candidate's lawyer} arguments. We have to hear [the arguments of] other parties to the case apart from Nosheen Ahmed [PML-N candidate]," said the court.

The court adjourned proceedings of the case for an unspecified period.