By-election rules: ECP files plea against LHC’s decision

ECP had barred PM Nawaz and all other members of the assembly from taking part in the election campaign

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has filed an application in the Supreme Court against the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision, allowing the prime minister and other members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies to take part in by-polls as well as local government election campaign.

The ECP, through a notification, had barred Nawaz Sharif and all other members of the assembly from taking part in the election campaign, but the LHC termed ECP’s move as illegal. However, on September 8, the superior court suspended the LHC judgment and restored the electoral codes for political parties.

Read: ECP questions timing of PM’s Kisan package ahead of LG polls

A senior official in the ECP said that some sections in the code of conduct were necessary, but Monday’s LHC judgment quashed them.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2015.