LAHORE ; Feb 10,2023: A single bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) has accepted the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and ordered to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections in the Punjab within constitutional limit of 90 days from the dissolution of the provincial assembly.
Justice Jawad Hasan announced the judgement on the petition filed by PTI senior leader , Asad Umar, here on Friday.
Asad Umar had moved the petition in the LHC seeking date for general elections in the Punjab .
The court , in its judgment , ordered to the ECP to sit with Governor , Baligh Ur Rehman, and announce the date for holding general elections in Punjab.
After dissolution of the Punjab assembly , Governor had refused to sign the summary . It resulted in a confusion over date on which general elections would be held in the province.
PTI had moved the LHC to seek the date for general elections in the province.
PTI expressed jubilation over LHC decision and ed its Friday’s decion on Asad Umar’s petition as a great victory of the people of Pakistan.
Asad Umar in his comment on LHC’s judgment on his petition said ‘ LHC’s decision is winning of the rule of law in Pakistan”.
Chaudhary Fawad Hussain in his comments said ‘ LHC’s decision is in line with the constitution”.
PTI leader ,Hamad Azhar said ‘ We salute LHC for this decision of Friday”.
Punjab former chief minister, Pervez Elahi , in his reaction said LHC decision was expected in favour of the petitioner. He said ECP should announce the date of general elections in the Punjab.
With the LHC order to the ECP to hold general elections in the Punjab , PTI has got a moral victory over Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN). It can give a big boost to PTI to win the upcoming general elections in the Punjab.
PMLN was not in a mood to hold general elections in the Punjab fearing spike in popularity of Imran Khan and his party . Its legal wizards were giving different references to delay the general elections in the Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK).
LHC’s decision on PTI petition has washed away all hopes and efforts of PMLN to keep clinging on the powers in the Punjab and KPK.
Now ECP has no option, but to implement LHC decision and announce fresh general elections in the Punjab and KPK.