Lahore High Court derails one-stroke election process: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a written order for yesterday’s hearing on the application of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the injunction of the Lahore High Court on the issue of holding elections under bureaucracy.

In a 6-page written order, the Supreme Court made it clear that the decision of the Lahore High Court is suspended, and the Lahore High Court cannot take further action regarding the ROs.

The written order said that the Lahore High Court had derailed the electoral process with a stroke of pen. exceeded its jurisdiction by passing the impugned order.

In a written order, the Supreme Court issued a notice under Article 204 and Contempt of Court Ordinance to petitioner Barrister Umeer Niazi, who belongs to PTI, and sought an explanation.

The Supreme Court has asked Umair Niazi to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be taken against him.

On the request of the Election Commission, the Supreme Court also issued notices to the federal government, attorney general, provincial advocate generals and summoned all the parties after the winter vacation.

It should be remembered that the Election Commission had stopped the training of District Returning Officers and Returning Officers on the order of the Lahore High Court, due to which the holding of the elections on February 8 was in danger. What was the challenge?

On the request of the Election Commission against the injunction order of the Lahore High Court, the 3-member bench of the Supreme Court suspended the order to cancel the appointment of ROs yesterday.

The Supreme Court rejected the request of the Election Commission to give one week’s time to issue the election schedule and also ordered the release of the election schedule yesterday.

Later, last night, the Election Commission had released the schedule of general elections, according to which the general elections will be held across the country on February 8, 2024.