PTI approaches SC to obtain polls schedule

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed constitutional petition at Supreme Court of Pakistan to ensure elections for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies as per scheduled announced on the directives of this august court, on Saturday.

The constitutional petition filed by Muhammad Sibtain Khan, Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Abdul Rehman Khan, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Asad Umar and PTI as party while Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Federation of Pakistan, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Secretary Cabinet Division, Chief Secretaries Khyber Pakhtunkhwa& Punjab and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are made respondents in the case.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Ali Zafar Advocate filed petition before SCP seeking to declare the order dated 22 March 2023 of ECP is illegal, unconstitutional, void ab initio and set aside the same. The petition argued that to direct ECP to hold election to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab on 30th April, as announced and decided by the President of Pakistan in pursuance of the judgement of SCP dated 01 March and the election schedule dated 8 March 2023 already announced by Election commission and further direct ECP to ensure that polls are held on the announced schedule.

The petitioner further seeking that SCP should direct Federation of Pakistan, Chief Secretaries Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to assist ECP in holding elections to provincial assembly of Punjab on 30th April including the provision of funds, security, personnel, maintenance of Law and Order as may be required by ECP for holding the elections.

The constitutional petition further argued to direct Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to announce schedule for elections to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly. It is worthy to mention that both provincial assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were dissolved immature by PTI-led governments to satisfy Imran Khan narrative for holding early election following his ousting from Prime Minister Office via Vote of No Confidence for first time in history of Pakistan.