ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a case regarding the disqualification of Khushab District Council chairwoman Sumaira Malik until February 17.
Justice Aamir Farooq heard the case filed by Sumaira Malik challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision to set aside the election results.
The IHC on January 2 had suspended an order of the ECP regarding her disqualification and sought a reply from the ECP.
However, the ECP could not submit a written reply.
In her petition, she maintained that once the election results were declared and consolidated, the ECP had no role except to issue a notification. Any matter regarding irregularities in the election process could have been disputed before the election tribunal instead of the ECP.
The petition stated that the ECP had no jurisdiction to issue such an order and her counsel had also argued before the ECP that the petition of her opposing candidates was not maintainable.
The court again sought reply from the respondents and adjourned the hearing.
The ECP on December 28, 2016 had set aside the election of chairperson and vice chairperson of Khushab District Council after PML-N’s Sumaira Malik and Malik Masood Nazeer Awan were declared as returned candidates, which were suspended by the IHC on the request of petitioners.
The rival candidates Ameer Haider Sangha and Ameer Klasi had challenged the election results before the ECP alleging that the secrecy of the ballot was compromised as the voters cast their votes after showing them to the returned candidates.
The ECP on December 28 had ordered a re-election with a majority of 3-1. Sumaira Malik through her counsel Tariq Jehangiri challenged the order before the IHC.
