PTI files contempt plea in SC against KP governor, ECP

• PTI has filed a contempt of court petition in Supreme Court of Pakistan
• The petition seeks proceedings against Governor KP and ECP
• It urged the court to implement its order on  announcing election date

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a contempt petition against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Haji Ghulam Ali and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not announcing the date of elections in the province in violation of the Supreme Court (SC) order.

PTI leader Mushtaq Ghani and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and named the ECP and Governor KP as respondents.

Speaking to media after submitting the petition, Asad Qaiser said it has been 62 days since the caretaker government has been formed and despite the clear orders of the Supreme Court, the governor has not yet given the election date.

He said they have submitted a contempt of court petition against the governor in the court. He said the ECP and Governor KP have given ample opportunities to announce the election date and now action will be taken against them.

In the petition, the apex court has been asked to order the implementation of the court orders of March 1 and to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the governor of KP.

The petition also requested the court to order the president or any other relevant authority to announce the date of the elections if the governor continues to refuse to do so.

The petition maintained that the governor “willfully chose to ignore the exalted status of his high constitutional office”, adding that he is “already in breach of his constitutional responsibilities and that he must appoint the date for holding the general election to the KP Assembly”.

The PTI requested the court to initiate judicial proceedings against the governor and “punish him accordingly”. The petitioner also requested the apex court to implement the court on announcing the election date.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court announced its verdict after two-day-long proceedings in the case regarding the delay in the announcement of the date of provincial elections in Punjab and K-P.

The court ordered that elections in both assemblies should be held in 90 days. The Punjab Assembly have been announced election on April 30.

However, Governor KP has announced the date and consultations with the ECP have been fruitless. He has proposed holding elections on May 28.

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