Islamabad (June 02, 2018): Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk on Saturday directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to file an appeal against the Lahore High Court’s verdict declaring nomination papers for general election 2018 null and void.
According to sources, the appeal will be filed in the Supreme Court by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Sources further added that the decision to file an appeal is based on ensuring elections are held on time.
Earlier, Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday has decided to challenge Lahore High Court’s Verdict about nomination papers in the Apex Court of the country.
Addressing a presser after an emergency meeting of the Commission, Additional Secretary of Election Commission, Akhtar Nazir said that the matters of delimitations and LHC’s verdict about the nomination papers were discussed in details.
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He said the ECP has decided to contact Supreme Court in the matter and will chalk out future strategy in the matter after the decision of the Apex Court.
Earlier, the meeting was chaired by the Chief Election Commission, Justice Retired Sardar Raza Khan, secretary election commission to discuss the Lahore High Court’s decision about the nomination papers.
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The LHC announced the judgement over a petition which had challenged the changes in nomination papers in Election Act 2017.
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The court declared that the ECP has authority to make any change in the nomination papers. The decision would not affect the schedule of the election, the court ruled.
Following LHC decision, the electoral body has convened an emergency meeting to bring improvements in the nomination forms‘ A’ and ‘B’.
The ECP had also directed all the Returning Officers not to accept nomination papers on June 02.
The upcoming General Election 2018 is scheduled to be held on July 25 On Thursday, ECP announced the schedule for filing nomination papers, saying candidates can file nomination papers from June 2 to June 6.
Returning officers will publish names of candidates on June 7 and start scrutiny of their credentials the same day. Scrutiny process would conclude on June 14.
In its verdict on Friday, the Lahore High Court nullified the nomination papers, which would be submitted by candidates from General Elections 2018, ruling that they did not seek necessary information and declarations such as details on educational background, criminal record or if they held dual nationalities. The court ordered ECP to add the requirements of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution in the nomination papers.
Election schedule
1. Public Notice to be issued by the Returning Officer on 01.06.2018
2. Dates for filing of nomination papers with the Returning Officer by the candidates
02.06.2018 to 06.06.2018
3. Publication of names of the nominated candidates 07.06.2018
4. Last date for Scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer 14.06.2018
5. Last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the Returning Officer rejecting/accepting the
nomination papers 19.06.2018
6. Last date for deciding of appeals by the Appellate Tribunal 26.06.2018
7. Publication of revised list of candidates 27.06.2018
8. Last date for withdrawal of candidature and Publication of revised list of candidates
28.06.2018
9. Allotment of Election Symbol to contesting candidate 29.06.2018
10. Polling day 25.07.2018
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