SC suspends LHC verdict on nomination forms

LAHORE, Jun 03 (APP):The Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday suspended Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict regarding nomination forms.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, passed the orders while admitting appeals, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq against the LHC verdict for regular hearing at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry.
During the hearing, the ECP counsel submitted that after issuance of election schedule, the LHC gave verdict over nomination forms issue.
He said that due to the verdict, the nomination forms could not be received from candidates for
the last two days and it had disturbed the schedule.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s counsel submitted that the LHC verdict violated basic principles whereas the parliament had powers to legislate on any issue. Both counsel argued that the verdict could delay the upcoming elections.
At this, the bench suspended the LHC verdict and admitted appeals for regular hearing. The chief justice, addressing Secretary ECP Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, said that no delay in elections would be tolerated and elections would be held on July 25. If there was any delay, then the ECP would be held
responsible, he added.
On June 1, Justice Ayesha A Malik had ordered for including all mandatory information and declarations in Forms A and B (nomination papers) for the general election 2018, while deciding
petitions questioning new nomination forms.
The court observed that the new forms did not provide for mandatory information and declarations as required by the Constitution and law.