Daily Times

The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench Monday rejected Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed’s plea challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone elections in the NA-60 constituency.

The ECP had postponed polling in the Rawalpindi constituency after the arrest and disqualification of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Sh Rasheed’s main contender Hanif Abbasi in the ephedrine quota case last week.

Justice Mujahid Mustaqeem of the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench upheld the ECP’s decision of delaying polling in NA-60 Rawalpindi.

In his response to the verdict, Sh Rasheed said he would approach the Supreme Court against the LHC verdict on Tuesday (today).

Submitting a petition through his counsel Sardar Abdul Razzaq earlier, Sh Rasheed contended that election cannot be postponed due to the sentencing of a candidate. He stated in the petition that elections in the constituencies of PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz and Capt (r) Safdar were not postponed when they were jailed in the Avenfield properties reference earlier this month.

The petition has named the ECP and NA-60 returning officer as respondents.

Separately, Pakistan People’s Party’s candidate in NA-60, Mukhtar Abbas, also challenged the ECP’s decision in the Islamabad High Court on Monday on similar grounds.

Taking up the plea, Justice Aamer Farooq issued notice to the ECP seeking a reply by Tuesday (today) and adjourned the hearing.

Presenting arguments, Abbas’ counsel stated that candidates in six constituencies across the country were disqualified but polling was not delayed there. During the proceedings, the judge wondered what would happen if polling is held since the ballot papers for the constituency include Hanif Abbasi’s name as well.

Published in Daily Times, July 24^th 2018.