Revised plea sought on CEC, IGP’s meeting with US envoy

Plea claims meeting with US Ambassador as interference

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the petitioner, Ashba Kamran, to refile her amended plea within 15 days, seeking action against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar.

The plea alleges their meeting with US Ambassador Donald Blome as potential interference in Pakistan’s foreign policy and the upcoming general elections.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, presiding over the case, sustained one objection from the LHC’s Registrar Office, stating that the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were made respondents in the petition.

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The petitioner, Ashba Kamran, filed the plea, arguing that Pakistan’s foreign policy was grounded in the fundamental principles of “Territorial Integrity and Political Sovereignty,” which explicitly prohibit foreign intervention and interference in internal and political affairs.

“The reported meetings between foreign diplomats and Pakistan’s Election Commissioner are seen as a form of foreign intervention aimed at potentially influencing Pakistan’s electoral process, violating Pakistani foreign policy and diplomatic norms,” the petitioner maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2023.