ECP to move SC to seek clarity over LHC verdict

ISLAMABAD, June 2 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Saturday announced to move to the Supreme Court (SC) to
clear ambiguity created after verdict of Lahore High Court (LHC) on nomination papers for upcoming general election 2018.
Addressing a press conference here, Additional Secretary ECP Dr Akhtar Nazir said the ECP will also approach
the SC against Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) decision on delimitation of constituencies.
However, he made it clear that the general election will be held on July 25. He said the ECP has same standpoint on nomination papers as it had before the LHC.
He said it is clear stance of the commission that nomination papers should be part of rules.
The ECP accepts this right of the parliament that it has power to amend the nomination papers and that is why
the ECP is moving to the court to seek clarity, he added.
He said all returning officers have been directed to stop receiving nomination papers on June 3 and June 4.
He said the commission will make its future strategy after decision of the SC.
Meanwhile, in a clarification on media analysis, the spokesman of the ECP explained that the Lahore High Court, Lahore in its verdict directed the ECP to enhance the nomination form or make it better while the honorable court also accepted that the parliament has jurisdiction to make nomination form as part of elections act.
The concerned articles were not declared as nullified, he added.
He said in order to clear this ambiguity, the ECP has decided to move to the Supreme Court.