IHC annuls delimitation in four more districts
ECP spokesman made it clear that that general elections will be held on July 25 without any delays
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday declared the delimitations of four more districts as void.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq was coducting hearing of the case.
The court referred the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan to decide the matter.
The court annulled the delimitation of constituencies in four districts including Kasur, Sheikhupura, Ghotki and Kharan, while the petitions filed against the constituencies of Khanewal, Chiniot, Kurram Agency, Rajanpur, Mansehra, Swabi, Jacobabad, Gujranwala and Umer Kot were rejected.
The court also reserved the verdict on petitions challenging delimitations of six districts including Haripur, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bannu and Chakwal.
On the other hand, the ECP spokesman made it clear that that general elections will be held on July 25 without any delays for any reason.
According to ECP sources, elections will not be delayed due to delayed culmination of constituency delimitation. “It is imperative to hold elections within 60 days of the completion of previous government tenure.”
Earlier, the IHC had voided eight delimitations of constituencies on more than 40 applications. The court had declared constituencies in Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Jhelum, Chakwal, Toba Tek Singh, Lower Dir and Batgram as against rules.
Justice Amir Farooq had pronounced the judgement on more than 40 identical petitions declaring the delimitations of Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Jhang, Jhelum, Chakwal, Toba Tek Singh, Lower Dir and Batgram void.
Previously, as the government prepares to hand power over to caretaker administration, President Mamnoon Hussain had approved July 25 date, which will see Pakistan s more than 100 million voters getting the opportunity to vote for both the national and provincial assemblies.
The five-year term of the country s government and National Assembly ends on May 31, after which an interim prime minister and administration will take over.
The 70-year-old country experienced its first democratic transition of power in 2013, when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came out on top as the biggest party.
