“ECP Dismisses Requests to Delay General Elections, Citing Cold Weather as Insignificant Factor”
Imran Khan moves LHC against jail trial of contempt of ECP case
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has concluded a consultation on the requests to postpone the upcoming general elections, firmly rejecting the proposals.
Officials from the commission emphasised that concrete reasons supporting the postponement were not adequately presented.
According to election commission officials, the cold weather argument lacks merit, as there seems to be no conclusive evidence of extreme conditions affecting most parts of the country. Furthermore, the security situation has been deemed satisfactory, alleviating concerns in that regard.
The ECP remains steadfast in its readiness to conduct the elections as scheduled on February 8, dismissing the notion that justifying a delay based on cold weather is appropriate.
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Many of the petitions filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan requesting a postponement have cited both the cold weather and security concerns as reasons.
This decision underscores the election commission’s commitment to ensuring the electoral process proceeds as planned, considering factors such as weather and security within reasonable bounds.
As the country prepares for the upcoming elections, the ECP’s stance reflects a careful balance between accommodating concerns and maintaining the democratic timeline.
On Dec 5, the Ministry of Finance released Rs17.4 billion to the ECP for the general elections.
The Finance Division issued a statement and said: “Finance Division has released Rs17.4 billion to the ECP in addition to Rs10 billion released in July 2023 for conduct of general elections in the country.”
“Imran Khan Appeals to Lahore High Court to Challenge Contempt of ECP Case, Opposing Jail Trial”
Former PTI chairman Imran Khan has challenged before the Lahore High Court the proceedings of the contempt of election commission case and its jail trial.
Imran Khan’s petition was submitted by his lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Samir Khosa. The petition has made the federal government, the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Adiala Jail superintendent parties.
Imran Khan argues in the petition that the ECP started proceedings for contempt of the commission illegally. The ECP did not have the authority to try someone for contempt, it pleads.
The petition further states that the election commission has decided to conduct a jail trial in the case, which is also illegal. A hidden trial inside the trial is a violation of Article 4 of the Constitution.
The ECP has fixed the date of December 13th for the indictment process in jail, it says. Therefore, the Lahore High Court should declare the decision to conduct a jail trial null and void.
The court should also order an open, free, and fair trial and also stop the indictment process through a secret trial until the final decision on the application.
On Wednesday, the ECP had decided that the proceedings in the contempt of the commission case against former PTI chief Imran Khan and ex-party leader Fawad Chaudhry would be conducted on Dec 13 at Adiala Jail, where both are currently imprisoned.
The ECP announced the verdict over the Interior Ministry’s refusal to produce Imran Khan before the commission during the last hearing, citing security concerns.
