LHC orders ECP to announce election date in Punjab immediately

Lahore: The Lahore High Court has issued an order to the Election Commission to give the date of elections in Punjab within the constitutional period of 90 days.

In a landmark ruling on Friday, LHC Justice Jawad Hassan pronounced the verdict, which had been eagerly awaited by the public. Justice Hassan stated that the ECP is obligated to conduct elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly and must issue the election schedule promptly.

In a 16-page judgment, Justice Jawad Hassan wrote that the Election Commission should announce the date immediately after consulting the Governor of Punjab and ensure that the elections are held within 90 days of the dissolution of the Assembly. If the Assembly dissolves itself without the Governor’s signature, then the Constitution has not bound any authority to give a date.

In the written decision, it is said that as an independent constitutional body, the Election Commission is bound to conduct elections and conduct election arrangements in accordance with the law. Article 220 of the Constitution obliges the federal and provincial institutions to assist the Election Commission. In light of the Constitution, the Election Commission should conduct the election according to the law.

In the written decision, it is said that Pervaiz Elahi sent the summary of the dissolution of the assembly to the governor on 12 January 2023, the governor did not sign the summary of the dissolution of the assembly and within 48 hours the assembly itself was dissolved. On 20 January 2023, the Speaker Punjab Assembly sent the governor Letter written to give election date On January 24, the Election Commission wrote a letter to the Governor’s Principal Secretary regarding the date of election in Punjab. According to the written decision, the Governor replied to the Election Commission that the Governor did not sign the summary, so he was not bound to give the date.