Punjab Assembly elections: ECP to consult with Governor on polling date

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday constituted a committee to meet Punjab Governor on Tuesday to consult polling date of Punjab Assembly elections in the light of Lahore High Court verdict.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, decided to seek time from Punjab Governor to meet the committee on Tuesday for devising a future strategy regarding holding of provincial assembly elections.

The committee headed by the Secretary ECP and comprising the Special Secretary and Director General Law will brief the Commission about the outcome of the meeting with the Governor.

The meeting was attended by members of the Commission, Secretary ECP and senior officers of the Commission.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has instructed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately issue the election schedule and conduct polls within the stipulated time, BOL News reported.

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The court announced the reserved verdict on a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a citizen seeking a date for elections in Punjab. The petition stated the governor had failed to fulfill his constitutional duty of announcing an election date.

Justice Jawad Hassan announced the verdict on a plea filed seeking direction to the Punjab governor for immediately announcing the date of elections in the province.

The court ordered the election commission to hold elections within 90 days. It instructed the ECP to consult with the Punjab Governor and announce the election schedule immediately.

The short order of the written verdict said the election commission should immediately give the date of the elections It said as the chief executive of the province, the governor should be consulted on announcing the election date. It should be ensured that elections are held without delay within 90 days, the order added.

PTI leaders hailed the decision and said the election commission should conduct the election. Speaking outside the court after the verdict was announced, PTI leader Hammad Azhar said there are only 65 days remaining after which there will be PTI governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the government should also announce conducting elections for the National Assembly. He said the people were tired of the PDM government and holding elections were the only solution.