CEC directs PMLN MNAs to submit separate plea for change of election tribunal

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja Tuesday directed the advocates of local PMLN MNAs to submit separate applications for the three constituencies, seeking a change of election tribunal.

“You don’t seem serious; do you want us to reject the request,” he remarked while hearing the PMLN lawmakers’ request for change of election tribunal here. A four-member bench of the commission headed by CEC conducted the hearing.

PTI’s senior lawyer Shoaib Shaheen informed the bench that they had not received the copy of commission’s last order and that a copy of the order was not given to them despite the application.

To this, the CEC directed for provision of a copy of the order within 5 minutes after the hearing. The CEC said that an inquiry would be made as to why the copy of the order was not provided to them (PTI lawyers).

An interesting exchange of remarks was witnessed during the course of hearing. The PTI lawyer said that they are strangers here. The member Balochistan asked how they could be strangers?

Shoaib Shaheen replied that he was talking about the injustices done to them. The CEC said that the ECP will continue to work under the Constitution and law. “Even if someone abuses us, we will follow the Constitution and law,” the CEC remarked.

The ECP adjourned the hearing till October 4 with the direction to Aamir Mughal, who was one of the PTI-backed candidates from the federal capital, to acquire the services of lawyer by tomorrow. His son appeared before the forum and said since his father was facing multiple FIRs, a lawyer could not be hired for this particular matter. Therefore, he should be given some weeks time for this purpose.