ECP considers filing plea against SC verdict on Punjab polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is considering to file plea against the Supreme court (SC) verdict on Punjab polls, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

According to sources, The final decision to file a plea against the Supreme court decision will be made after the commission receives a detailed verdict on the Punjab polls.

Sources with ECP said that if funds and security are provided then the commission is ready to hold elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was already preparing for elections before the Supreme Court decision, the ECP sources said. Now the election date is announced and complete arrangements will be made for elections, sources added.

Sources within ECP maintained that the federal and provincial governments’ assistance is required to hold elections. The process of elections in Punjab will restart from the Appellate Tribunal.

The ECP is conducting election management system trials for the results of polls and the monitoring teams are constituted for elections, sources added.

ECP sources further said that the survey of polling station buildings has been completed and the scrutiny process was carried out by the returning officers.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court (SC) declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) March 22 order on Punjab elections null and void.

A three-member bench — comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — announced the reserved verdict on the PTI’s petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order postponing the elections in Punjab and KP.

The Supreme Court declared the ECP’s order postponing the provincial assembly elections until October 8 as “unconstitutional” and ordered the government to release Rs21 billion funds for elections in Punjab by April 10.

The petition

PTI had challenged the election commission’s decision to change the date of election in Punjab and KP. Punjab and KPK assemblies’ speakers Sibtain Khan and Mushtaq Ghani have filed a joint constitutional petition on behalf of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI)

The federation, Punjab and KPK were made parties along with the ministry of parliamentary affairs, ministry of law and the cabinet in the PTI petition

In the petition, PTI sought directions for the federal government to ensure law and order, provisions of funds and security personnel as per the ECP’s need to hold the elections.

It also requested the court to direct the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to announce the date for elections to the provincial assembly.