ECP dismisses petition against Imran's possible removal as party chief
Pakistan
LHC barred from issuing verdict but not from hearing: ECP
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dismissed a plea against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s possible removal as the party chief.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the plea.
Barrister Gohar, Mr Khan’s lawyer, argued that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had barred the commission from issuing any verdict in the case to which the chief election commissioner replied that the LHC had barred from issuing the verdict and not discontinuing the hearing. Mr Gohar argued that neither he was asking him to do so.
Afaq Ahmad said the ECP had been serving false notices on him adding that the notices issued to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were being sent to him. “The notices could not reach me on time due to the negligence of the Deputy Director of the Law department”, he added.
The CEC rebuked him saying he should not point fingers at anyone, lower his voice, and talk about the relevant case. Mr Ahmad argued who was responsible for serving a notice after the case had been taken up for hearing. The CEC remarked what he meant by that to which he argued he would say what Mr Raja wanted to listen to.
Upon this, the CEC ordered the police to throw Mr Ahmad out of the courtroom. Later, the ECP dismissed the plea.
PTI chairman Imran Khan in his reply stated that the LHC had barred the ECP from issuing a verdict on the case so the ECP should adjourn the hearing until the LHC issued a verdict. “The Supreme Court had issued a declaration of disqualification in Nawaz Sharif’s case but no forum did so in Imran Khan’s case”, he added. A party head could be removed only, he said, if the declaration had been issued.
On the other hand, the ECP will summon a meeting to deliberate preparations for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s (SCP) orders directing the election watchdog to hold elections in the provinces in line with the Constitution.
Sources said the meeting would take place at 12pm. The ECP secretary, provincial election commissioners and other officials will attend the meeting that will be briefed on ballot papers, security, training of the election staff and preparations for elections.
Earlier, the ECP had decided to approach Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for assistance in holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as relevant ministries paid no heed to its requests.
Sources said the electoral body would ask the premier to release funds and take steps for the provision of security in both provinces. The decision to write a letter to the prime minister had been taken over non-cooperation from the Ministry of Interior and Finance.
