ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended clauses 202 and 204 of the Election Act 2017, directing political parties to submit Rs 200,000 to the ECP along with signed copies of National Identity Cards (NICs) of more than 2,000 workers and dismissed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notice as well.
Justice Aamir Farooq conducted the hearing on petitions that were filed by political parties and summoned answers from all parties by issuing notices.
Advocates Hafiz Muhammad Suffyan and Chaudhry Hamid appeared before the court on behalf of political parties. The petitioners’ counsels opted the stance that the clauses included in the bill are contrary to the Constitution of Pakistan as well as the basic human rights.
It is worth mentioning here that according to the new clauses, political parties were directed to submit rs 200,000 to the ECP along with signed copies of National Identity Cards (NICs) of more than 2,000 workers before December 2.
The ECP had then issued a notice to the political parties which were challenged in the IHC along with the election act. The hearing of this case has been adjourned until January 9.
