Officers on election duty: Supreme Court suspends Lahore High Court order
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The Supreme Court (SC) has suspended the Lahore High Court (LHC) order staying the appointment of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy, 24NewsHD TV channel reports.
Taking up the Election Commission of Pakistan’s appeal against the LHC verdict on officers on election duty over the PTI plea, the top court directed the commission to issue the election schedule by ‘tonight’.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa also halted all proceedings on the PTI petition in the high court. Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Sardar Tariq Masood were also part of the bench.
As ECP lawyer Sajeel Swati presented his arguments, the top court called up the PTI plea to determine its maintainability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJCRiHMsX_o
Releasing the verdict on the PTI additional secretary general Barrister Umair Khan Niazi’s plea, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of Lahore High Court referred the matter to the chief justice with a request to constitute a larger bench.
The chief justice questioned the ECP lawyer whether a larger LHC bench was constituted to hear the matter to which the ECP counsel responded that one was formed for Monday.
He questioned if elections could be halted across the whole country just based on his ( Barrister Umair’s ) plea.
Asking to read out the apex court’s Nov 3 order which had stressed that elections would take place on Feb 8, the top judge said: “Shall we issue a contempt notice? … Barrister Umair Khan Niazi’s [petition] is a violation of the Supreme Court order.”
Following the Lahore High Court (LHC) orders, the ECP paused a three-day session to train the returning officers. The developments sparked speculations about the delay in the election.
In reply to a question at the top court before filing the appeal, Election Commission Secretary Umar Hameed said he can’t say anything about elections on February 8.
Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja called on CJP Qazi Faez. Justice Sardar Tariq Masood Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan were also present.
Reports said CEC Raja informed the chief justice of the preparations being made by the ECP for the general elections.
Justice Ali Baqir Najafi gave the ruling, recommended forming a larger bench, and sent the file to the LHC chief justice.