Supreme Court accept Sheikh Rashid’s appeal on by-polls for hearing

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News : The Supreme Court of Pakistan has accepted Sheikh Rashid’s appeal to listen his application to conduct by-polls in NA-55 in Rawalpindi in contradiction to the verdict of the Lahore High Court.

The three member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has issued notices to the government of Punjab and Election Commission to submit its replies in the courts. Chief Justice remarked during the hearing that the Supreme Court would continue its work according to the constitution of Pakistan. The government has the responsibility to conduct by-polls and if the government is not in a position to conduct by-polls then it should inform to the Attorney General Shah Khawar. The Attorney General would ask the Governor Punjab to hold elections.

Earlier, Waseem Sajjad, the counsel of Sheikh Rashid argued in the court that article 224 section 4 indicates to hold by-polls on the vacant seat in the sixty days. The Election Commission had given November 7, 2009 a date for the by-polls on NA-55 but the government of Punjab appealed to the Lahore High Court and indicated in the application that the Election Commission did not make any consultation with the governmnet of Punjab for announcing the date of by-polls. Waseem Sajjad further argued that the Election Commission is an independent institution.

The Supreme Court also issued notice to Attorney General to assure his presence in the court in the next hearing.