LHC seeks replies on plea challenging ECP's delimitation notification

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh of the Lahore High Court has called for responses from concerned quarters by September 6 in relation to a plea challenging the notification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the process of delimitation.

The petitioner argues that the move could potentially extend the election timeline beyond the mandated 90-day period set forth in the Elections Act of the Constitution.

During Wednesday's proceedings, Justice Sheikh emphasised the constitutional imperative of conducting elections within the stipulated 90-day timeframe, underscoring the need for adherence to this timeline.

He also raised a query regarding the delay in approving the census results, pointing out that the census was completed in June but took two months for approval.

Read more: ECP urged to delimit constituencies of equal population

The lawyer representing the federal government contended that the complex process of delimitation could not feasibly be completed within four months. He cautioned against disenfranchising 30 million people from electoral process under the pretext of election logistics.

He argued that delimitation should naturally follow the census process, noting that this issue is already under consideration by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, Justice Sheikh requested assistance from the Attorney General of Pakistan and instructed the law officer to provide an update on the election date by the next hearing.

The proceedings pertained to a plea filed by petitioner Muhammad Muqsit Saleem, who sought the court's intervention to declare the ECP's notification issued on August 17, 2023, as unconstitutional.

Saleem urged the court to restrain the concerned respondents from acting upon the impugned notification and instead, take lawful measures to ensure that elections are held within the constitutionally mandated 90-day period.

The petitioner further requested the court to suspend the implementation of the contested notification until a verdict is reached on the case.