–ECP warns of de-listing if parties fail to submit fee, documents by Dec 2
ISLAMABAD: At least four political parties have challenged the Elections Bill 2017—which is yet to pass in Senate— in the Islamabad High Court, saying the bill is contradictory to Article 17 of the constitution.
The four registered political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Safdar, Sadai Pakistan Party, Pakistan Democratic Front and Democratic Party of Pakistan, on Wednesday, moved the court through their counsel Hafiz Muhammad Suffyan and Chaudhary Muhammad Hamid, while naming the secretary law and election commission as parties.
Amendment 202 of the bill contradicted the constitution; therefore, it was illegal. The petitioner requested the court that the amendment of the bill be termed null and void.
Earlier, the PML-N had bulldozed the bill through the parliament which allowed ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panamagate, to head the PML-N again.
On the other hand, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed 352 political parties for submission of Rs 200, 000 enlist fee and CNIC copies of two thousand workers by Dec 2, but no political party came forward with the required credentials till Wednesday.
In a final reminder, the ECP final reminder directed the political parties to submit the fee, details of their party constitution, accounts, intra-party election and other details.
The ECP on November 24 had warned the parties to submit the details; else they would receive a show cause notice followed by them being de-listed.
On October 20, the ECP had issued a notice to all the political parties for submission of details; however, the parties did not pay any heed to the notice till now.
