IHC moved against ECP’s judicial powers

Petitioner says no institution should have powers equivalent to courts

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has been moved against the judicial powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Advocate Daniyal Khokhar, through senior lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Babar Awan, filed a petition in the high court, challenging sections 4, 9 and 10 of the Election Act, 2017, seeking the annulment of judiciary like powers given to the commission.

The court was pleaded to restrain the commission from exercising its judicial powers till a decision on the petition was taken.

The petition contended that judicial powers could not be granted to the commission as there were five constitutional courts, including the Supreme Court, in the country, and no other state institution could be equivalent to them.

The petition also called for abolishing provisions which allowed the commission to punish contempt and issue directions.

The petitioner pleaded the court to seek the details of salaries and benefits of the commission’s employees, and if they were found to be equal to the constitutional courts, they should be declared illegal.