Parliament has authority to make amendments in nomination papers: Khursheed Shah
PPP wants election to be held on time
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) on Saturday while expressing concern over the nomination papers, hinted at summoning Senate session and devising a strategy along with other political parties.
Addressing a press conference at Bilawal House in Karachi, PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that following Balochistan Assembly’s resolution, former KP CM’s letter and concerns on nomination papers have raised doubts regarding the upcoming general elections.
He said that the PPP wants election to be held on time.
The PPP leader went on to say that the parliament had the authority to make any amendments in the nomination papers, and the papers should be sent back to parliament if there are any reservations.
Speaking on the occasion, Leader of Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman said that the PPP wants to adopt a joint strategy, adding that elections should not be delayed.
She said that the issue of nomination is very serious and efforts are being made to convene a session of the Senate.
The PPP leader said that Pakistan is going through a tough situation and the PML-N government has left Pakistan in a lurch.
She said the PPP is also making efforts for timely elections, and is consulting allies in this regard. She demanded that the caretaker setup fulfills it promise and holds timely elections.
She said there was no amendment in the nomination forms which may raise any serious concerns.
Read Also: IHC, BHC, LHC verdicts cause for concern to delay polls: Bilawal Bhutto
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had also emphasized principled opposition to delay in General Elections 2018.
Taking to social-networking website Twitter, Bilawal expressed concerns over the decisions of Lahore High Court (LHC), Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Balochistan High Court (BHC) regarding nomination papers and delimitations.
“IHC, BHC and LHC decisions and timings cause for concern particularly given nominations were to start tomorrow,” he stated.
He also expressed reservations over the letter of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) CM and Balochistan Assembly‘s resolution to extend date of the elections.
Read Also: Caretaker PM directs to move SC against annulment of nomination papers
Earlier, Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk had directed the concerned authorities to file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict of declaring nomination papers null and void.
On the other hand, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had also decided to approach Supreme Court (SC) for guidance over Lahore High Court (LHC) decision to annul the nomination papers prepared by the parliament.
Read Also: Changes in nomination papers: ECP to approach Supreme Court over LHC verdict
Meanwhile, former speaker of National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq had announced to move SC against the verdict, saying that the amendments were carried out with the consent of all the parties. ECP making new forms can delay the elections, he added.
Previously, the LHC judge Justice Ayesha A Malik pronounced the reserved verdict on the constitutional petition filed by law expert Saad Rasool on the behalf of Dunya News anchor Habib Akram, challenging the Section 60, 110 and 137 of the Election Act 2018.
The judge while declaring null and void the nomination papers prepared by the parliament had ordered the ECP to prepare new nomination papers.
