Punjab governor, ECP fail to announce election schedule despite LHC order

LAHORE: A meeting between Punjab Governor and the Election Commission of Pakistan delegation remained inconclusive regarding the announcement of elections in the province in the light of the order of the Lahore High Court, which had instructed the ECP to announce the election schedule with the consultation of Punjab Governor.

The governor was of the view that he had not dissolved the assembly so he was not authorised to announce the date for the elections.

He further said that he did not want take any extra-legal and constitutional step, adding the Lahore High Court’s decision requires an explanation, for which they are taking the legal route.

The governor despite the order of the LHC has not announced the date for the elections for the provincial assembly.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the ECP had informed the Chief Election Commissioner about the consultative meeting.

The CEC has called an important meeting regarding the election schedule in Islamabad on Wednesday (tomorrow).

The meeting would discuss the election schedules in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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The ECP has also released the statement about the meeting with the Punjab governor.

On the other hand, a citizen has approached the Lahore High Court against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and governor Punjab for not announcing the election date in the province of Punjab even after a clear direction of the august court.

The petitioner Munir Ahmed contended that the ECP and the Punjab Governor were constitutionally bound to hold the general elections in Punjab within 90 days after the dissolution of Punjab Assembly but they failed to perform their constitutional duty.

He said the respondents even after the court order did not announce the election date or issue election schedule and exposed themselves for contempt of court proceedings. He, therefore, prayed the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the respondents.