Daily Times

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Tuesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide on the five reserved seats in the Punjab Assembly by June 2. The Commission had unseated 25 PTI MNAs over defection on May 23. Almost 20 out of 25 dissident members were elected from different constituencies while three were elected on seats reserved for women and two on seats reserved for non-Muslims. The PTI, on May 28, sought orders from the high court for the ECP to notify new MPAs on reserved seats in the Punjab Assembly. Now, the LHC has ordered the ECP to wrap up the matter by June 2 after hearing arguments from the PML-N and the PTI, says a news report. The PTI’s counsel maintained that the ECP was deliberately delaying the matter. At this, LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti asked, “Why aren’t you processing [the matter]? He directed the ECP to decide even if no party appeared before it. To this, the ECP’s counsel apprised the court that the election body was processing the matter. The lawyer said that the PTI had filed an application to notify new MPAs on the reserved seats while PML-N requested not to notify. The PTI is of the view that all the five reserved seats be given to them while the PML-N maintains that the notifications in this regard should be issued after the by-elections on the vacant seats and as per the new party position in the House. Meanwhile, the ECP has set June 2 as a date to hear the pleas of PML-N and PTI about notifying five new MPAs on reserved seats in the Punjab Assembly. A three-member bench of the ECP headed by the chief election commissioner will hear the pleas. Meanwhile, notices have been issued to PTI and PML-N.