LHC says won’t cause Senate polls delay

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  • Asks govt, ECP to consider pleas over Constitution’s implementation

 

While hearing writ petitions filed by Munir Ahmad and Shahid Pervez Jami for implementation of articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and challenging the use of faulty nomination papers, Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that it was not inclined to interfere in the electoral process of Senate at this stage and directed the federal government and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consider the contentions raised in writ petitions regarding the implementation of articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

In a short order issued Thursday, the court further directed to revisit the nomination form at the earliest so that necessary amendments are put in place before the next elections.

During the hearing, the acting ECP secretary assured that facilitation system will be put in place immediately and made available to the returning officers (ROs) so that they can scrutinise the candidature of the applicants in terms of articles 62 and 63. He also told the court of the possible delay in Senate polls which would be caused in case of amendment in nomination papers.

Justice Shah directed ECP to present the data summary of the facilitation system made available to the ROs on the next date of hearing on March 17.