ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday admitted as ‘maintainable for hearing’ the intra-court appeal filed by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Federal Government against the single bench’s verdict, in which ECP was ordered to hold local government (LG) elections as per schedule, i.e. on December 31. The IHC however rejected ECP and Federal Government’s appeal to suspend the single bench’s verdict today.
The IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz issued notices to the parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and others for January 9.
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Despite clear IHC orders, the ECP failed to hold the Local Government elections in the federal capital on the given date.
A division bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition today.
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During the course of proceedings, IHC chief justice expressed displeasure with the additional attorney general and ECP. At one occasion, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the government and the electoral body challenged the court’s decision of holding the LG polls on December 31 but were presenting baseless points.
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The bench asked on what basis they would issue notices on the intra-court appeal.
He directed both the ECP and the Federal Government to come prepared for the next hearing, after which the court reserved the judgement.
