PESHAWAR: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court headed by Justice Syed Arshad Ali on Saturday issued a written order on petitions filed against the suspension of Senate elections and sought replies from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and all other parties.
The PHC heard petitions filed by the Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and Senate candidate Irfan Saleem challenging the suspension of the elections.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners Ali Gohar Durrani, Assistant Advocate General Taimur Haider and counsel for the respondents Barrister Yaseen Raza appeared before the court.
The court directed the ECP and the opposing party, Member Provincial Assembly Jalal Khan, to submit written replies before the next hearing.
The counsel for the petitioners argued that the ECP had postponed the elections despite having already issued the schedule for polls, whereas under Article 224 of the Constitution, the ECP had no authority to suspend elections once the schedule announced On the other hand, counsel for the opposing party contended that the ECP was a constitutional forum vested with complete authority, and until the commission reaches a final decision, other courts should refrain from interfering in its jurisdiction. The court issued notices to all parties and directed them to submit their responses.
