IHC bench headed by CJ Aamer Farooq admits Election Commission of Pakistan, federal govt’s appeals in Islamabad LG polls case

ISLAMABAD, Jan 02 (SABAH): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday admitted intra-court appeals filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the federal government against a ruling of its single-bench on local bodies polls in the federal capital.

A bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz has rejected the ECP petition, seeking suspension of the single bench order to hold the LG polls on Dec 31. During the DG Law ECP Mian Abdul Rauf Advocate, Advocate General Islamabad Barrister Jehangir Khan Jadoon and Additional Advocate General Munawar Iqbal Duggal appeared before the bench and present their arguments.

Last week, IHC Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir ordered the ECP to hold the election on time (Dec 31) while hearing petition of the PTI and JI against the election body’s verdict to delay the polls “for the time being” due to government’s decision to increase the number of union councils (UCs).

However, the ECP instead of holding the LG elections filed a petition against the order, presenting an excuse that there was a shortage of polling staff and government teachers and other staff are on winter vacation.

During the hearing Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that high court could not issue directions to Election Commission of Pakistan, adding that this principle has been settled in PTI foreign funding case. Justice Aamer Farooq said that with excuse for which the purpose matter was sent to the ECP, it went for the bill, adding that everyone has to do his work while remaining under the ambit of law, adding that we are considering the matter whether directions could be issued to the constitutional body.

Meanwhile the counsel of the ECP requested the court to set aside the order of the single member bench of IHC. The court after hearing the arguments reserved the judgment and later on announced the verdict.

The court has admitted the petitions of ECP and federal government for hearing and issued notices to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami in the case and sought their replies till January 9.

Talking to media outside the high court, PML-N Islamabad President Dr. Tariq Fazal Chadhry said they would accept the every decision of the IHC. He maintained that the decision to extend the UCs was taken to ensure the participation of every citizen in the electoral process.