PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – A petition has been filed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) challenging the postponement of the Senate by-election in Peshawar.
The petition was submitted by Irfan Saleem, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominee, who argued that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed the election without legal authority.
The ECP secretary, chief election commissioner, and the provincial election commissioner have been made respondents in the petition.
The petition noted that the Senate seat became vacant on March 25, 2026, following Murad Saeed’s disqualification, and that a by-election should have been held in accordance with constitutional requirements.
Irfan Saleem stated that the ECP’s notification on April 21, 2026, unlawfully delayed the by-election. The petition references Article 224(5) of the Constitution, which mandates that elections for a vacant seat must be conducted within 30 days.
The petitioner has requested the court to declare the ECP’s decision illegal and order the authorities to conduct the Senate by-election without delay.