LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday reserved a verdict on the petitions filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and others over delay in announcement of date for elections by the Punjab governor.
LHC Justice Jawad Hassan reserved the ruling after hearing arguments from the PTI, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and federal government. The court is expected to announce the verdict on Saturday (today).
PTI Secretary General Asad Umar filed the petition, seeking direction to the Punjab governor for immediately announcing the date of elections in the province.
Inspector General of Punjab Police, Dr Usman Anwar and the chief secretary appeared before the court.
During the course of proceedings, the Punjab IGP assured the court they will follow whatever decision made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Punjab governor’s lawyer maintained that Balighur Rehman was not bound to give a date for elections as an interim cabinet had already formed. He pleaded with the court to return the pleas as inadmissible with a fine on the petitioner.
PTI’s counsel Barrister Ali Zafar, while responding to the governor’s lawyer, said President Arif Alvi could give election date as the IGP and chief secretary had assured of performing their duties. He said the president could announce the date through a notification.
A day earlier, the governor also submitted his response in an identical petition filed by a citizen Munir Ahmed, stating: “It is emphatically denied that the answering respondent No 1 was in any manner obligated to appoint the date of elections when he has never dissolved the Assembly while acting on the so-called advice of the Chief Minister”. He also rejected an impression that his move is creating any hurdles in the way of ECP to discharge its duties, calling the allegations “fallacious”.
