AMRAIZ KHAN
The Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought reply from the federal government and Election Commission of Pakistan on petition against non-issuance of a notification for five reserved seats in Punjab Assembly.
Justice Shahid Waheed of the LHC was hearing the case filed by the PTI leaders. The judge also sought assistance from the Attorney General for Pakistan and Advocate General Punjab on the matter and put off further hearing till June 27.
During the proceedings, the law officer who was representing the Punjab government and the counsel of ECP opposed the petition of PTI leaders and said that these were not maintainable. The Advocate General Punjab said that the drafting of the petition was not good and therefore these petitions were not maintainable.
The lawyer of the PML-N pointed out that the party he was representing before the court was not made party in the case.
The ECP counsel said that a similar case was being heard by the Islamabad High Court, and said that the stance of the PTI should also be taken on it. The PTI’s counsel said that the ECP was not issuing notification for the five reserved seats of the PTI in the Punjab Assembly.
“We are being told to wait till July 17—the day of by-polls on vacant seats of the provincial assembly,” the PTI’s lawyer said, while arguing before the court. At this, the judge remarked that there was not any urgency in the matter.
The judge adjourned further hearing till June 27 and sought replies from the respondents.
