Commission will chalk out its strategy in light of SC order,
Islamabad_The polling in general elections for Punjab Assembly will now be held on May 14.In this regard, a notification was issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with partial modification in the election schedule.According to the new program, the last date for filing appeals against decisions of the returning officers (ROs) pertaining to nomination papers will be April 10
The meeting will be held at the ECP Secretariat at 11am with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in the chair.
A three-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan announced the decision in open court and declared the ECP’s decision to hold polls on October 8 as unconstitutional.
The court directed the ECP to reinstate its previous election schedule under which polls were to be held and extended it by 13 days.
The court clarified that the ECP could not go beyond the 90-day stipulated time and stated that 13 days were wasted because of the ECP’s unlawful decision.
The top court also directed the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the ECP and instructed the commission to inform it if the government refused to do so.
The constitution and laws of the election commission did not allow an extension of the date, it added.
According to the decision, candidates would be able to submit nomination papers from April 10, the electoral body would publish the list of candidates on April 19, and electoral symbols would be issued by April 20.
It was learnt that the forum intended to chalk out its plan of action in the light of the apex court order.
“The commission will have a detailed look at the SC order from different angles and what exactly are the directions and proposals, if any,” a senior official of the electoral body told the publication.
He said the election schedule given by the commission for the Punjab Assembly’s general election would also be deliberated upon.
A three-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan announced the decision in open court and declared the ECP’s decision to hold polls on October 8 as unconstitutional.
The court directed the ECP to reinstate its previous election schedule under which polls were to be held and extended it by 13 days.
The court clarified that the ECP could not go beyond the 90-day stipulated time and stated that 13 days were wasted because of the ECP’s unlawful decision.
The top court also directed the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the ECP and instructed the commission to inform it if the government refused to do so.
The constitution and laws of the election commission did not allow an extension of the date, it added.
According to the decision, candidates would be able to submit nomination papers from April 10, the electoral body would publish the list of candidates on April 19, and electoral symbols would be issued by April 20.
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