Chief Justice Pakistan to hear cases on the election day

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar will hear cases in the Lahore registry of Supreme Court on the public holiday announced for the polling day.

According to details, the representative of Supreme Court said that the chief justice will continue to hold court proceedings at Lahore registry of the apex court on the day of election – July 25. Although, the courts across the country will remain closed on July 25, he added.

It is worth mentioning that the top judge is on leaves of five days and visiting northern areas of Pakistan with his family.

A public holiday has been announced on July 25 – the day of general elections in the country.

Chief election commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan has approved the public holiday on July 25 during a meeting.

A total number of 11,855 candidates running for the 849 general seats of National Assembly and four provincial assemblies.

This includes a total of 3,459 candidates — 1,623 from Punjab, 824 from Sindh, 725 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 287 from Balochistan. They will contest for the 272 general seats of the National Assembly. The National Assembly – the lower house of the parliament in the Pakistan’s democratic system consists of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected, 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 are open to religious minorities.

A political party needs at least 172 seats to win simple majority to form government at the national level and to ensure election of its prime minister.