ECP finally notifies Punjab polls tribunals

After much ado, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finally notified eight tribunals to adjudicate electoral petitions in Punjab, the country's most populous province.

A notification issued on Thursday said consultations were held last week between Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum with regard to appointing serving LHC judges as tribunals.

These tribunals comprise both serving and retired judges.

According to the notification, LHC's Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad will hear election petitions from constituencies in Sheikhupura, Nankana, Sialkot, Wazirabad, and some areas of Lahore. Justice (retired) Rana Zahid Mahmood will adjudicate the petitions emanating from other constituencies in Lahore.

A tribunal led by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry has been formed for Chiniot, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, and Hafizabad. Justice Anwaar Hussain will preside over a tribunal formed for Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, and Vehari.

Justice (retired) Mehmood Maqbool Bajwa will lead the tribunal established for Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, and Narowal while Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar will adjudicate petitions from Multan, Khanewal, DG Khan, Taunsa, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, and Layyah.

A tribunal comprising Justice (retired) Zafar Iqbal has been formed for Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Lodhran, and Muzaffargarh. Justice (retired) Abdul Shakoor Paracha will preside over the tribunal created for Rawalpindi, Attock, Talagang, Jhelum, Murree, and Chakwal.

While hearing some writ petitions challenging the authority of the ECP to appoint election tribunals in Punjab, a single-member bench of the LHC on May 29 ruled that election tribunals in the province were to be appointed on the recommendation of the LHC chief justice.