LAHORE: Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman on Tuesday decided to approach the Lahore High Court to clarify his role in the consultation process for the date of elections in the province.
In a statement issued after a meeting directed by the Lahore High Court to finalize the election date, Baligh-ur-Rehman’s spokesperson said there were some issues in the High Court’s order that needed to be “clarified and interpreted”. There was a need.
After meeting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) delegation, the spokesman said, “After consulting legal and constitutional experts, the matter will be referred to the court.”
On the orders of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, a three-member delegation of ECP headed by the Secretary of the Commission met the Governor.
The commission will now brief the election body about the meeting with the governor.
A day earlier, the ECP had decided in a meeting presided over by the CEC that the Governor Punjab would be consulted on the date of general elections in Punjab as per the order of the Lahore High Court.
ECP said that the decision of Lahore High Court regarding general elections in Punjab was discussed in the meeting.
It was said in the statement that ‘according to the order of the honorable court, the Election Commission has requested the Governor of Punjab to hold a meeting on February 14 to consult on the date of general elections of the Punjab Assembly’.
The ECP meeting was held last week following the decision issued by the Lahore High Court.
The High Court had directed the ECP to ensure that elections are held in Punjab within 90 days.
Delivering the reserved judgment, Justice Jawad Hassan allowed the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and asked the electoral body to conduct the elections within the constitutional limits.
PTI approached the High Court after repeatedly demanding the Election Commission to release the dates of elections in Punjab. The party dissolved the provincial assembly on January 14.
“…The ECP is directed to announce the date of the elections to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab immediately with a notification, after consultation with the Governor of Punjab, as the constitutional head of the province, that “to ensure that the elections are held. Not more than ninety days as mandated by the Constitution,” the judgment read.
