The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide on a plea within 30 days that was filed challenging Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s contest in the 2018 general elections.
According to the petition, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had contested on Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP)’s ticket rather than his own Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza presided over the case wherein petitioner Syed Iqtidar Haider implored the court that after the introduction of new election laws called Election Act 2017, the PPPP (headed by Asif Ali Zardari) and PPP (headed by Bilawal) registered separately as distinct political parties having election symbols “sword” and “arrow”. The ECP approved “arrow” under section 215 (2) for the general election 2018 to Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament) and all provincial assemblies. He contended that the foreign minister while contesting the general election submitted his party affiliation certificate from the PPPP to the returning officer for contesting the poll from NA-200 Larkana-I to the National Assembly.
