LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday has sought response from Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and other parties in a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking the announcement of date for elections in Punjab.
PTI is of the view that elections were supposed to be held within 90 days after the assembly had been dissolved but the Punjab governor had not even announced the date for elections.
LHC Justice Jawad Hassan heard the plea wherein PTI Secretary General Asad Umar had requested the court to direct the Punjab governor to immediately announce the date of elections in Punjab.
During the course of hearing today, Justice Jawad Hassan inquired when the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hold elections in the province. Responding to this, the ECP lawyer said: “we are ready to hold polls”. He further said the governor had replied to a letter sent by the electoral body seeking a date for the elections. The governor had asked the ECP to hold consultation with all stakeholders.
Justice Hassan remarked that elections should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly as per the Constitution. “How can you say that economic condition is deteriorated?” the judge asked the ECP counsel. He remarked elections had been held in the past when economic condition was also shaky.
At one point, the judge asked Mr Umar if a larger bench should be made to hear the case. The PTI leader, however, requested the court not to establish a larger bench.
During the hearing, a lawyer for the Punjab governor sought seven-day time from the court to submit reply, however, it was opposed by the PTI arguing that it would delay the process.
The LHC asked Mr Umar to not worry as now the case was being heard by the court. Later, Justice Jawad Hassan directed the counsel for the governor and other parties to submit their detailed replies by Feb 9 and adjourned the hearing till same date.
The hearing was adjourned until February 9.
