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The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections in the province within 90 days.
LHC Justice Jawad Hasan issued a secret order seeking an order from the Punjab Governor to immediately announce the date of elections in the province.
On January 27, the PTI approached the LHC seeking an order to the Punjab governor to immediately announce the date for the elections in the province after the assembly was dissolved. The ECP had recommended that the elections be held from April 9 to 17.
In the petition, which was sent through the general secretary of PTI, Asad Umar, it is said that more than 10 days have passed since the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, the Governor of Punjab and the ECP have to send their answers to the court by February 10 of this year.
At the beginning of the hearing, the representative of the governor stated that Mr. Rahmon is not obliged to announce the date of the election when the interim cabinet is formed. He asked the court to return the petitions as a penalty to the petitioner.
Usman Anwar and Chief Secretary IGP Punjab also attended the meeting and assured that they will implement the court order.
PTI’s lawyer Ali Zafar said that President Arif Alvi can decide the date of the election as the IGP and chief secretary have assured to fulfill their duties. He said the President can announce the date through a notification.
A day ago, the governor filed his reply in a similar petition filed by citizen Munir Ahmed and said: “It is categorically denied that respondent No. 1 was in any way bound to fix the date of the election when he was never dissolved. The Assembly in while acting on the advice of the so-called Prime Minister.”
He also dismissed the impression that his move would create any obstacle for the ECP to discharge his duties, terming the allegations as “false”.
In Thursday’s hearing, Mr. Chowdhury asked the court to decide the case tomorrow (Friday) as further delay would affect the 90-day period stipulated in the Constitution for holding elections.
The ECP’s lawyer told the court that the electoral body was facing various hurdles, including funds, in conducting the elections. But a lawyer for the federal government asked the judge to form a larger panel to hear the case.
The PTI lawyer said that the government and the ECP are not serious about holding elections on time. Asad Umar warned that if the election date is not announced within three days, a constitutional crisis will arise.
On January 14, the Punjab Assembly was dissolved without a signal from the Governor of Punjab. According to the law, the assembly is dissolved within 48 hours after the advice of the prime minister if the conclusion is not approved by the governor.
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