SC directs ECP to conduct by-election in NA-60

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct the by-election in NA-60 Rawalpindi-IV, declaring null and void the ECP’s notification regarding the postponement of election in the Constituency.  

The election was not held in NA-60 after the ECP postponed the election in the Constituency following the life-imprisonment of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Candidate Hanif Abbasi awarded by the Supreme Court in Ephedrine Quota Case, and his subsequent arrest.

Later, the Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed approached the Islamabad High Court against the ECP’s notification but didn’t get the verdict in his favour.

Eventually Sheikh Rasheed filed the application in the Supreme Court, whose three-member bench led by the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar today ordered the ECP to hold the by-election in NA-60 Rawalpindi-IV.

Talking to the media persons outside the Supreme Court, Sheikh Rasheed said the general elections 2018 were held in a free environment.

Sheikh Rasheed said the people had rejected the old faces. He said those who had objections to election results might contact the relevant institution.

The AML Chief also said Rashid Shafiq would be their Candidate in NA-60 by-election. He said their Candidate would contest the election with the symbol suggested by the Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.