Reply sought on plea challenging ECP’s delimitation notification

Concerns over delay in elections beyond statutory period raised

LAHORE:

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has initiated proceedings in response to a plea challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s notification regarding delimitation.

The petitioner contends that this action may result in a delay in elections beyond the constitutionally mandated 90-day period set by the Elections Act.

During the session on Wednesday, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh emphasised the constitutional necessity of conducting elections within the stipulated 90-day timeframe. He directed concerned parties to respond to the plea by September 6 and urged that elections adhere to this legal timeframe.

Justice Abid Aziz inquired why the census results, which were completed in June, could not be approved within the subsequent two months.

Read ECP urged to delimit constituencies of equal population

He underlined the importance of expediting the process.

Representing the federal government, a lawyer argued that the delimitation process cannot be accomplished within a four-month span.

He cautioned that conducting elections amid the delimitation process would potentially disenfranchise 30 million people. He further pointed out that the delimitation process should follow the census and highlighted its current consideration by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Justice Abid Aziz also sought the assistance of the attorney general of Pakistan.

The court directed the law officer to present updated information about the election date by the next hearing.

The case was brought forth by petitioner Muhammad Muqsit Saleem, who seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the ECP's notification issued on August 17, 2023.

Saleem aims to halt the implementation of the notification and ensure the adherence to Constitutional guarantees of conducting elections within 90 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2023.