ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) petition to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision, ordering re-election in NA-75 Daska.
A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, heard the PTI appeal against the ECP’s ruling on the Daska by-election. As the proceedings began, the PTI’s counsel urged the bench to suspend the electoral body’s decision.
To which, Justice Bandial said, “ECP is a constitutional institution, and its decision will not be suspended.” However, he said the court will only decide whether it will be held in the whole constituency or in limited polling stations.”
Meanwhile, PML-N assistant lawyer told the court that counsel Salman Akram Raja is suffering from COVID-19 due to which, he is unable to attend the hearing. The judge said that the decision would not be announced without listening to Salman Akram Raja’s arguments.
Earlier, ECP had submitted a reply in SC, declaring Punjab government responsible for mismanagement during by-elections in NA-75 Daska. The commission had told the apex court that the polls were made controversial by deploying selected officers in the area.
In February 2021, the ECP had nullified by-election in NA-75 Daska and ordered to conduct re-polling in the entire constituency. The commission had first decided to hold elections on March 18 however, later, it announced a new date of April 10.
