ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Rawalpindi’s NA-60 constituency.
ECP had postponed elections in the constituency after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, contesting from NA-60, was handed life-sentence in ephedrine quota case.
An apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar, heard Awami Muslim League (AML) supremo Sheikh Rasheed’s plea against ECP’s decision to postpone elections in NA-60.
The bench heard arguments from both sides and directed the ECP to hold elections in the constituency.
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Sheikh Rasheed said that one of his opponents was sentenced by a court, while others had withdrawn in his favour. “I have forgotten what ECP did to me,” he stressed.
Rasheed also lauded and thanked CJP Nisar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for guaranteeing free and fair elections across the country.
Lauding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo Imran Khan, the AML chief said that Khan will be sworn in as the PM by 14th August and that the nation must support him for prosperity and prevalence of democracy.