Jhelum Constituency: SC accepts petition for early by-polls
PTI candidate challenges CEC order postponing polls indefinitely
Talking to The Express Tribune, Hussain said the CJP, while admitting their plea for regular hearing, has remarked that the SC has already taken suo motu action on the issue. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Monday accepted for regular hearing a petition filed by a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate for the National Assembly seat from Jhelum (NA-63), seeking early holding of the by-election in the constituency.
Senior advocate Dr Khalid Ranjha filed the petition on behalf of Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, challenging the June 16 notification issued by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan through which the by-election in the constituency scheduled for July 14 was postponed for an indefinite period because of the expiry of the tenure of four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, after hearing the appeal in his chamber against the order of the SC registrar to return the petition, admitted it for regular hearing. The petitioner has made the CEC, the federal government and other contesting candidates as respondents, citing Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
The SC registrar office had returned the plea by raising several objections. Later Hussain moved an appeal against the objections. Ranjha, Hamid Ali Shah and Chaudhry Fawad Hussain appeared before the chief justice in chamber.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Hussain said the CJP, while admitting their plea for regular hearing, has remarked that the SC has already taken suo motu action on the issue.
The petitioner contended that it has been a settled law that a constituency cannot remain unrepresented for an indefinite period and that the state is duty-bound to protect the voters’ right to be represented, by using all means available at its disposal.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2016.
The Supreme Court on Monday accepted for regular hearing a petition filed by a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate for the National Assembly seat from Jhelum (NA-63), seeking early holding of the by-election in the constituency.
Senior advocate Dr Khalid Ranjha filed the petition on behalf of Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, challenging the June 16 notification issued by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan through which the by-election in the constituency scheduled for July 14 was postponed for an indefinite period because of the expiry of the tenure of four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, after hearing the appeal in his chamber against the order of the SC registrar to return the petition, admitted it for regular hearing. The petitioner has made the CEC, the federal government and other contesting candidates as respondents, citing Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
The SC registrar office had returned the plea by raising several objections. Later Hussain moved an appeal against the objections. Ranjha, Hamid Ali Shah and Chaudhry Fawad Hussain appeared before the chief justice in chamber.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Hussain said the CJP, while admitting their plea for regular hearing, has remarked that the SC has already taken suo motu action on the issue.
The petitioner contended that it has been a settled law that a constituency cannot remain unrepresented for an indefinite period and that the state is duty-bound to protect the voters’ right to be represented, by using all means available at its disposal.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2016.