ECP rejects plea seeking delay in elections, simultaneous polling in FATA assemblies
The ECP announced the reserved verdict during the hearing headed by Chief Election Commissioner.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Election Commission on Monday dismissed the petition of Muttahida Qabail Party (MQP) seeking delay in general elections and polling for the national and provincial assemblies’ seat in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on the same day.
The ECP announced the reserved verdict during the hearing headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
MQP’s lawyer barrister Farogh Naseem adopted stance that if the elections are held on July 25, 15 percent seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly will remain vacant and provincial government will be formed due to polling on remaining 85 percent seats.
Moreover; the risks of rigging will be elevated if elections are held simultaneously on the vacant seats.
Farogh Naseem maintained that the temperature will be higher in July and turn out will be low. “The petitions of South Punjab for delaying the elections are also a part of this plea,” he said.
“How are the petitions of South Punjab connected to the situation in FATA?” inquired the CEC. “In winters, many areas will be quite cold while it will be monsoon in July,” he remarked.
Balochistan member Shakeel Baloch said that the weather will also be intensely hot in May.
Farogh Naseem argued that July is much hotter as compared to May. He requested the court to delay the election for two to five months.
The court dismissed the petition after conclusion of arguments.
