LHC dismisses Sheikh Rasheed's petition against NA-60 poll deferral

RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday dismissed Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed’s plea against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision to defer the election to a National Assembly seat from Rawalpindi (NA-60).

A day earlier, the ECP issued a notification postponing election in NA-60 after disqualification of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hanif Abbasi due to his conviction by the Control of Narcotics Substances Court in the ephedrine case.

Sheikh Rasheed had filed a petition in the LHC, Rawalpindi bench, contending that election cannot be postponed on account of the conviction of a contestant. Why voters of the constituency should suffer due to the conviction, he asked.

He pleaded with the high court to set aside the election commission’s decision and direct it to conduct election in the constituency on July 25.

The ECP put off the election owing to criticism in political and social circles over the timing of the court verdict.

On Saturday, Abbasi was arrested and sent to Adiala jail after the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Court in Rawalpindi sentenced him to life imprisonment in the case related to misuse of controlled chemical ephedrine.