ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday decided to immediately move the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the decisions of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Balochistan High Court (BHC) regarding annulment of nomination papers and delimitation of constituencies.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the ECP Chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza which was convened in Islamabad to discuss the LHC’s decision pertaining to the nomination papers for general elections.
While briefing the media persons after the meeting, the Additional Secretary of ECP Akhtar Nazir made it clear that the general elections would be held on July 25, 2018.
However, he said that the Returning Officers (RO) have been asked not to receive nomination papers on June 3-4.
On Friday, the LHC annulled the Parliament-prepared nomination papers, and ordered the ECP to prepare new nomination papers.
In the ruling, issued by the LHC judge Justice Ayesha A Malik, the ECP was directed to again add the requirements of article 62 and 63 of the Constitution in the nomination papers.
Later, the Election Commission announced that it would not issue the nomination papers from Saturday (June 2).
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Election 2018 Schedule issued by the ECP on May 31, June 2-6 has been fixed as dates for filing of nomination papers with the RO by the Candidates.
