SHC moved to suspend by-poll on NA seat in Karachi

KARACHI: A petition was filed in Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday seeking the suspension of a by-poll in Karachi’s NA-239 constituency, ARY News reported.

The petition was filed by PTI’s former MNA Akram Cheema.

The petitioner maintained that the PHC and LHC had already suspended by-polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab.

At this, the SHC judge inquired to submit written order copies of both courts.

To which, Cheema’s lawyer told the court they have a copy of the written order of LHC but PHC judgement is currently not available.

The court then ordered to submit a written judgement of PHC verdict regarding the suspension of by-polls and adjourned the further proceedings till Monday.

LHC bars by-polls on NA seats

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) today suspended by-elections in two National Assembly constituencies – NA-108 Faisalabad and NA-118 Nankana Sahib.

The LHC judge Justice Shahid Karim issued the verdict on petitions filed by PTI leaders Farrukh Habib and Ijaz Shah.

The petitioners argued that by-elections in both constituencies were scheduled to be held on May on May 28, adding that as per the law they could not be conducted when there are less than 90 days in completion of the National Assembly.

During the hearing today, Advocate Azhar Siddique told the court that the by-election could not be held 120 days before the expiry of the term of the National Assembly.

“The PHC had postponed the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so it should be stopped in Punjab too,” he told court.

At this, the ECP advocate argued that the election was stopped in KP by making false statements in the Peshawar High Court, adding that all preparations for the elections have been completed, and the court should dismiss the petition.