Jury is in: PHC suspends ECP decision to deseat PTI councillors

Lawyers to get offices near judicial complex in Haripur

ABBOTTABAD/HARIPUR: A single-member bench of Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad bench suspended on Friday the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to de-seat three PTI councillors on the basis of defection. The case has now been admitted for trial, said Advocate Junaid Anwar Khan.

Three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf councillors Luqman Saeed, Uzma Bashir and Urooj Swati were elected as district councillors in Mansehra on PTI's ticket. However, at the time of elections for the seat of district nazim, they voted in favour of Sardar Said Ghulam, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominee, against Shafaht Khan of PTI.

PTI filed a reference against them with the ECP, referring to the disqualification section, Section 78-A of the Local Government Act 2013. The ECP had disqualified and de-seated the councillors two months ago, but the councillors took the case to Abbottabad bench of the PHC.

After arguments, the bench headed by Justice Lal Jan Khattak suspended the ECP's decision, restoring their membership, and admitted the case for a trial.

More room

Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel approved the allocation of a piece of land for lawyers’ offices near the judicial complex in Haripur, which is under construction.

In his brief address to judges and lawyers, Miankhel, while referring to the demands of the district bar association about the lack of offices for lawyers, said the piece of land can be used by the lawyers.

He also stressed the need to strengthen collaboration between the bar and the bench to facilitate swift and inexpensive justice for the public.

High Court Bar Association Abbottabad President Javed Tanoli and District Bar Association Haripur President Khursheed Azhar also addressed the audience briefly. Later, Miankhel visited the judicial complex of Havelian, which is under construction.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th,  2015.