SC rejects Sheikh Rashid's plea, upholds LHC decision to defer NA-60 poll
Chief Justice conducted hearing over Rashid's petition in Supreme Court Lahore registry.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the petition of Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rashid and upheld Lahore High Court and ECP’s decision to postpone polls for NA-60 (Rawalpindi-IV).
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar conducted hearing over Rashid’s petition in SC Lahore registry.
Following the rejection of plea from LHC Rawalpindi bench, the AML chief filed petition against the verdict in Supreme Court.
He adopted stance that the polls deferral decision by ECP was challenged in LHC Rawalpindi bench however; the court did not kept the law in consideration and rejected the petition.
He maintained that all the preparations for NA-60 polls are completed however; surprisingly the elections were deferred on July 22 by ECP following the life term imprisonment of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine case.
No acceptable explanation was given in this regard, added the plea.
Rashid went on to say that elections can only be suspended in case of the candidate’s death therefore; decision to defer NA-60 poll is a violation of election act and constitutional articles.
The AML chief has requested the court to annul ECP’S notification and LHC Rawalpindi bench’s verdict in the case.
An anti-narcotics court on Saturday handed life imprisonment to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine quota case. In the light of court’s verdict, Hanif Abbasi has been barred from contesting elections.
