Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday stayed the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and referred several appeals to a new tribunal.
The case was heard by IHC Chief Justice Adalat Farooq, who ordered Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Anjum Aqeel Khan to ignore court hearings and ensure that he appears in court in every court.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Rajan on June 10 approved a plea by PML-N lawmakers seeking legal action against Pakistan Tehreek’s victory in the February 8 polls. Insaf (PTI) supports independent candidates.
The petition was filed by PML-N’s Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Aqeel Khan and Raja Khurram Nawaz, while his contenders in the general election are PTI-backed Muhammad Ali Bokhari, Shoaib Shaheen and Aamir Mughal.
In response, a PTI-backed independent candidate challenged the IHC against the ECP’s decision, and the court initially barred the new court from hearing the case.
In today’s hearing, IHC CJ Farooq directed PML-N MP Anjum to read the affidavit filed in the ECP.
“What does the word ‘father-in-law’ mean?”
When asked why he had signed the affidavit without reading the presiding judge, the PML-N legislator replied.
The judge sided with the court citing the plea of a member of Parliament in the ECP to transfer the case to a new tribunal.
“I am not asking for donations,” Anjum said.
“Then why did you impeach the judge [duplicitously]? Why did you ask the lawyer [ECP] to file the application?”
He then adjourned the case to July 9.
IHC suspends ECP’s verdict on transfer of poll pleas to new tribunal
