Pak court directs Election Commission to immediately hold Punjab polls

Lahore: A Pakistani court has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to immediately announce the date for polls to the provincial assembly of Punjab, a decision seen as a setback for the PML(N)-led ruling federal coalition and a victory for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

In a late-night decision on Friday, the Lahore High Court's single bench of Justice Jawad Hassan ruled that the Election Commission is bound to carry out polls within 90 days of the assembly's dissolution and issue the election schedule.

The High Court announced the decision on the petition of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. The court had reserved its verdict on Friday afternoon.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf governments of Punjab and Kyber Pakhtaunkhawa provinces dissolved the assemblies more than 20 days ago, primarily to push the federal government to call for snap polls.

The PML(N) and its allies, instead of obliging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's demand of dissolving the National Assembly and holding fresh polls, declared that the elections to both the provincial assemblies should also be held once the federal government's tenure completes in August.

Subsequently, the governors of both provinces declined to give dates for holding polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Constitution, the elections must be held within 90 days from the day of dissolution of the assemblies.

The matter was referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan which said it received reports from the police chiefs and chief secretaries of both provinces declaring that the environment was not conducive to holding polls because of the poor economic and law-and-order situations in the country.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan directed his party to challenge the federal government's "delaying tactics" in both Lahore High Court and Peshawar High Court.

In the Lahore High Court, Justice Jawad Hasan said, "The Election Commission of Pakistan is directed to immediately announce the date of election of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab with the notification specifying reasons, after consultation with the governor of Punjab, being the constitutional head of the province, to ensure that the elections are held not later than 90 days as per the mandate of the Constitution." The case in the Peshawar High Court is pending.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf senior leader and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry termed the High Court's decision "historic". He also asked the federal government to sit with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and discuss the national elections simultaneously.