IHC suspends ECP’s decision of de-seating Pindi mayor

ISLAMABAD: Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here Friday suspended an order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that on April 27 disqualified Mayor of Rawalpindi Sardar Nasim.

IHC bench while suspending order observed that once a returned candidate is administered oath, ECP cannot adjudicate the matter but relevant forum is election tribunal. ECP through its April 27 order disqualified and de-seated Nasim under the allegations that he used his influence to rig the reserved seat elections before he was elected as mayor.

ECP had disqualified Nasim on the petitions to Tahira Tanvir of PML-N and Lubna Iqbal of PTI. Earlier, both the petitioners had filed petitions before the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench that were dismissed. After dismissal of their petitions, they went to ECP.

In 2015 local bodies elections, PML-N had won 40 union councils, PPP three seats, PTI won two and the Awami Muslim League had won one. IHC bench after issuing the above said order put of in this matter till second week of May.

Separately, in another matter Justice Mohsin Akhtar of the IHC expressed his resentment over the poor performance of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that was tasked to locate a Danish national woman and her two daughters.

IHC bench issued notices to the ISI, MI and other law enforcement agencies seeking their reply. As per details, a Danish national of Pakistani origin Tahir Imran Bakhsh adopted before the court that his wife Afsheen Bakhsh and two daughters Hira and Dua were Danish nationals.

Three of them came to Pakistan after obtaining a visa but after the visa period was expired they did not arrived back to Denmark. Danish embassy in Pakistan due to overstay of its nationals requested Pakistani government to deport them but they are missing. IHC bench after issuing notices sought a report from the respondents till May 8 and adjourned.