LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has heard a challenge to the ECP’s authority to remove a political party’s election symbol.
Through counsel Azhar Siddique, attorney Munir Ahmad filed a “public interest” petition challenging the provisions of Section 215 of the Elections Act of 2017, which establishes a party’s eligibility to receive an election symbol.
As you may remember, PTI ran unrepresented in the elections on February 8 and lost in court due to its inability to hold intra-party elections.
The petitioner argues that the right to run for office under a popular emblem cannot be restricted, and that as the ECP is a constitutional body and not a court or tribunal, any authority it may have improperly obtained to restrict fundamental rights would be unlawful under Article 8.
The petition will be heard by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan on February 16.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
