Notices to ECP, others in Hassaan case

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court Thursday issued notices to Election Commission of Pakistan and other authorities on a petition seeking disqualification of PML-N leader Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan as chairman from Union Council 107.

Zubair Niazi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf challenged the qualification of Mr Hassaan, who was elected the chairman unopposed from the Lahore’s UC in the local government election held in Punjab.

As the court resumed hearing, Advocate Sheraz Zaka appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that the respondent (Hassaan) before being elected unopposed chairman had held different positions with several public sector departments, including Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC).

He pointed out that according to Section 27 of Local Government Act 2013, a person who had been holding an office of a statutory body controlled by a provincial government was not eligible to contest election of local bodies before two years.

The counsel said the respondent resigned from the offices days before filing of nomination papers for LG polls. Therefore, Mr Hassaan, who was likely mayor of Lahore, failed to meet the two years bar, he added. The counsel prayed to the court to declare the respondent disqualified to hold the office of the chairman.

Justice Shahid Karim sought replies from the ECP and other respondents by March 31.