KP government escaping from LB polls after giving election schedule itself: SC

ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (Online): Supreme Court (SC) has remarked KP government is escaping from LB polls after giving election schedule itself.

SC has disposed of appeal plea filed against Peshawar High Court (PHC) decision on deferment of second phase of Local Bodies (LB) polls in KP.

The court while rejecting KP government plea for halting Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from holding LB polls on new election schedule remarked “ECP has given new schedule for holding LB polls in KP on March 31, 2022. All the appeal pleas have become ineffective following issuance of new schedule of LB Polls in KP. Provincial government and respondents should present their stance before ECP.

The court while directing ECP to hear the pleas of KP government and all respondents has maintained ECP should hear all the respondents on Tuesday and issue appropriate order.

At the inception of hearing of the case on Monday counsel for ECP told the court the election schedule has been changed. Provincial government had given the date of Marh 25 itself.

The Advocate General (AG) KP while opposing the election schedule by ECP for holding LB polls in KP in connection with second phase on March 31 took the plea no consultation was made on new schedule.

He further said the schedule was to be issued in consultation with provincial government as per law. It is wrong to say that high court gave decision without hearing ECP.

The counsel for the petitioner took the plea ECP has made brief change. The problem of intensity of weather will not be resolved. We donot expect justice from ECP.
Justice Mazahir Naqvi remarked don’t express mistrust on the institutions for the sake of personal interests. The case has become ineffective following the issuance of new schedule. We will not set wrong precedent by suspending election schedule. If SC has to decide about the schedule then should we close ECP.

He further remarked “issuing election schedule and holding election is job of election commission. KP government is escaping after giving election schedule itself. Why should SC interfere in election matters? Now they say election will be got held after holy month of Ramadan. After Ramadan they will say Eid has come. Later they will say Eid ul Azha has come. Then Muharram will come after Eid ul Azha. This way election will not be held.