PTI lauds the high court’s decision
A Lahore High Court (LHC) bench, presided over by Justice Jawad Hassan, has issued a ruling that mandates the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the election date for the Punjab Assembly promptly.
The court’s decision specifies that the ECP must carry out the election within 90 days of the assembly’s dissolution and must provide a notification explaining the reasons for their decision after consultation with the governor of Punjab.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had approached the high court, seeking an order that would require the governor to announce the election date, as the assembly was dissolved on January 12. The ECP had previously recommended that the elections take place between April 9 and 17.
It is a legal requirement that elections be held within 90 days of the assembly’s dissolution. In response to the court’s verdict, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry celebrated the decision, calling it a triumph for the Constitution and the law. PTI Senator Faisal Javed also voiced his support for the verdict, stating that the people will have their say in the election.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has stated that the government has no influence over when elections should be held. He believes that if the general and provincial elections were held together, they would be more free, fair, and acceptable to the public.
