PHC seeks written replies from governor, ECP on KP polls

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to submit written replies regarding the KP Assembly elections.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Syed Muhammad Attique Shah is hearing the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking a date for the polls.
The 11th provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved on January 18 this year and according to the Constitution of Pakistan, elections are to be held within 90 days of the dissolution — latest by April 16, 2023.
PTI leaders Azam Swati, Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz and Shah Farman also appeared in the court, said local media reports.
During the hearing, the court asked why the governor has not yet given a date for the elections. At this, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Advocate General Shumail Ahmad Butt said that the governor still has time to give a date for elections as per the Constitution, adding that the chief secretary has submitted a reply today.
To this, Justice Ali ordered Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to submit a written reply by Thursday in response to the letter sent to him by the electoral body seeking a date for the polls.
The high court then asked what will be the future course of action if the ECP does not get the date today. PTI’s lawyer said that the governor is not giving the date and is only making excuses.
The court after issuing the notices adjourned the hearing till Thursday.
The ECP had sent a letter to the governor, proposing dates for the assembly elections between April 14 to 17. However, Haji Ghulam Ali informed the ECP that it should give the dates for the elections itself in consultation with all stakeholders while keeping in view the prevailing security and economic conditions of the country.