LHC seeks ECP reply on pleas against delimitations

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to respond to petitions against the new constituencies by December 8.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petitions against delimitation of two constituencies from Gujranwala and Lahore. The petitioners have objected to the fixation of constituencies. They pleaded with the court to issue an order to the ECP to fix the constituencies anew.

APP adds from Islamabad: Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) sent the matters to the ECP pertaining to the delimitations in various constituencies of the country. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case filed by senior lawyer Ahsan Bhoon regarding the delimitation in Hafizabad.

At the outset of hearing, the ECP’s lawyer adopted the stance that he was in the court in another case, adding the department has not received court notice in this case. The chief justice inquired that when the ECP was going to announce the schedule for general elections. He said that several people have challenged the delimitations before the court. The court said that these were just minor issues, which should be addressed by the electoral body at the earliest.

Ahsan Bhoon said that there was no constituency in the country where the population was more than 1.3 million. He said the total population of Hafizabad was 1.319 million but only one constituency was made.

The court asked the ECP to address the issues after hearing the complainants as soon as possible and pass orders along with.