Rejecting the PTI’s petition for immediately suspending the schedule announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for by-elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the respondents, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During the hearing, Faisal Chaudhry, counsel for the petitioner, prayed to the court to suspend the elections’ schedule. 

Justice Aamer Farooq asked him to tell the reasons as to why the schedule be suspended. “You want the elections to be postponed. There must be legal reasons for that. After all, the NA seats had fallen vacant on account of resignations given by the PTI MNAs, which led to announcement of the schedule by the election commission,” he remarked.

PTI’s counsel replied that the party’s petition against phased acceptance of its 123 legislator’s resignations was already sub judice.  

“Let elections on these nine seats be held first; elections on the remaining seats will be held later. Your party better contest the elections,” Justice Aamer said while addressing Faisal Chaudhry.

The court then adjourned hearing of the case until August 16.  

The NA speaker had accepted the resignations of  PTI MNAs, which they had given following the ouster of their party government on April 10, 2022, around 10 days back.

And following that, the ECP had announced that by-polls would be held on nine seats of the lower house on September 25, 2022.                             Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani