LHC issues notice to ECP on petition against reserved seats for women

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan on an application seeking a stay order against the election on reserved seats for women in parliament and the Punjab Assembly.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued this order on an application moved by a lawyer, Tariq Aziz Malik, into his already pending petition against the election on women reserved seats.

He said that the general election had been held and now the commission would hold election for reserved seats, and before a decision on his main petition, the commission should be restrained from holding election on reserved seats. The judge on April 2 had admitted for regular hearing the main petition and had sought a reply from the election commission.

The petitioner submitted that there were 188 seats reserved for women in parliament and provincial assemblies and on these seats women were nominated. He stated that it was an illegal and unconstitutional as under Article 226 of the Constitution, all elections shall be held by secret ballot. The judge sought a reply from the Election Commission of Pakistan till May 22.

Source: The News