IHC suspends ECP’s verdict on transfer of poll pleas to new tribunal – M Haris

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order, wherein it had transferred multiple poll rigging petitions to a new tribunal.

The case was heard by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq who also issued a contempt of court notice to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Anjum Aqeel Khan, directing him to ensure his appearance before the court in every hearing.

The electoral body’s four-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, on June 10 approved the petitions from PML-N lawmakers seeking transfer of the cases, wherein their win in the February 8 polls was challenged by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidates.

The petitions were filed by PML-N’s Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Aqeel Khan and Raja Khurram Nawaz whose rival candidates in the general election were PTI-backed Muhammad Ali Bokhari, Shoaib Shaheen and Aamir Mughal.

In response, the PTI-backed independent candidates then moved the IHC against the ECP’s decision, with the court initially barring the new tribunals from hearing the cases.

More to follow…