LHC CJ declines ECP’s request for election tribunals

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik on Wednesday declined the request of the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) for appointment of district and sessions judges and additional district and sessions judges as election tribunals for disposal of election petitions.
According to an LHC press release, the request was examined and it was found that there was no provision in the relevant law or the rules for the High Court to appoint judicial officers as election tribunals for the aforesaid purpose.
The LHC chief justice therefore declined the request of the ECP, it added.
The ECP had requested the court to appoint the said judicial officers as election tribunals under the Punjab Local (Conduct of Elections) Rules 2013. Meanwhile, on the request of the commission, the LHC provided a list of 38 retired district and sessions judges suitable for appointment as election tribunals.
It is important to highlight that retired district and sessions judges are not under the administrative control of the Lahore High Court Lahore.
Their selection and appointment is dependent on their consent that may be obtained by the Election Commission of Pakistan if so desired, says another LHC press release.
It is also worth mentioning that the LHC has already turned down a request of the commission for appointment of its sitting judges as members of the election tribunals for the disposal of the election petitions.