ECP probe into rigging in NA-18: Omar Ayub moves SC against IHC verdict

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub has challenged in the Supreme Court the verdict of Islamabad High Court (IHC) vacating a stay on National Assembly constituency NA-18, Haripur, allowing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to probe the alleged rigging in that constituency.

In his petition, he prayed to the apex court to declare the IHC’s decision and ECP’s actions unconstitutional and nullify them. He contended that the Election Commission exceeded its constitutional mandate by initiating the investigation. He stated that the Islamabad High Court had initially restrained the ECP through a stay order, but the recent decision allowed the proceedings to continue. The Election Commission could only investigate rigging within 60 days — not after that, Omar Ayub submitted. On April 19, IHC Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar vacated a stay order related to NA-18 Haripur, allowing the ECP to investigate alleged rigging in the constituency.