ECP approves PML-N MNA’s requests for change of Islamabad tribunal

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) approved all three requests on Monday from PML-N MNA seeking a change of tribunal in Islamabad and has mandated the tribunal's transfer.

The ECP announced its decision that it had rearlier eserved on Friday and issued a cause list in this regard today.

Earlier on Thursday, the ECP had  turned down PTI’s request to defer a hearing filed by the ruling party’s lawmakers against the election tribunal hearing complaints of alleged rigging in the February 8 polls.

The lawyer for the PML-N legislator reiterated that the election tribunal could not issue directives to the ECP.

He expressed concern that the tribunal was not granting them adequate time and that the matter was being rushed.

PTI’s Shoaib Shaheen told the bench that the party had challenged the ECP’s proceedings against the election tribunal in the IHC. "It is possible that we might get a stay order. Please grant us time until Monday," he requested.

Following the arguments from both PML-N and PTI-supported candidates for two days, the ECP reserved its decision on Friday.

The PML-N MNAs, including Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, had expressed a lack of confidence in the election tribunal headed by Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri.

However, PTI-supported lawyers Shoaib Shaheen, Aamir Mughal, and Ali Bukhari had requested the dismissal of the PML-N leaders' petitions.