SC directs ECP to hear all parties in K-P local body polls case

Court wraps up case against PHC's earlier decision

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) to hear views of all parties in the case, including the KP government.

“The Election Commission should hear arguments of all parties and issue appropriate orders tomorrow," said the apex court and added that the election body should listen to all arguments on Feb 15.

The SC also wrapped up the case against the earlier decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

On February 9, the Supreme Court suspended the PHC’s decision, in which it postponed the second phase of the K-P local government election scheduled for March 27.

Read: ECP issues K-P LG polls’ revised schedule

A two-member division bench of the apex court, comprising of Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the case and issued notices to all involved parties.

On February 4, the Abbottabad bench of the PHC had postponed the next phase of the LG elections, a decision that was welcomed by the Hazara Province Movement, which vowed to field candidates from every district and village council of the Hazara Division, including Battagram, Allai and Torghar.

Read: ECP issues revised schedule of K-P LG polls after Supreme Court verdict

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a statement had urged ECP to challenge the decision in Supreme Court after the PHC decision. He called it a conspiracy on the part of the K-P government to delay the elections.