Poll panel issues revised vote schedule

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) yesterday issued a revised schedule for the general elections this year.

According to ECP notification, the dates for filing of nomination papers with the returning officers will be from today until Friday.

The date of publication of names of nominated candidates will be June 8.

It said that this schedule will also apply to the seats reserved for Women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Punjab.

The commission made it clear that all remaining stages of previous schedule will remain intact and poll will be held on July 25 as notified earlier.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday suspended the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict regarding nomination forms.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, passed the orders while admitting appeals, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq against the LHC verdict for regular hearing at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry.

Bench admits plea

During the hearing, the ECP counsel submitted that after issuance of election schedule, the LHC gave verdict over the issue of nomination forms.

He said that due to the verdict, the nomination forms could not be received from candidates for the last two days and it had disturbed the schedule.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s counsel submitted that the LHC verdict violated basic principles whereas the parliament had powers to legislate on any issue. Both counsels argued that the verdict could delay the upcoming elections.

At this, the bench suspended the LHC verdict and admitted appeals for regular hearing. The chief justice, addressing Secretary ECP Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, said that no delay in elections would be tolerated and elections would be held on July 25. If there was any delay, then the ECP would be held responsible, he added.