LHC allows Senate elections to proceed, issues notices in Ijaz Ch disqualification case

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Monday rejected a plea seeking to halt the upcoming Senate elections, allowing the electoral process to continue as scheduled, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Justice Ahmed Nadeem Arshad announced the reserved verdict while hearing a petition filed by PTI leader and former senator Ijaz Chaudhry, who challenged his disqualification. The court, however, issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other relevant parties, directing them to submit responses at the next hearing.

During the proceedings, Additional Attorney General Malik Javed Awan represented the federal government and raised objections to the maintainability of Chaudhry’s petition. He argued that the issue of disqualification had already been settled by the Supreme Court in the Yousaf Raza Gilani case, wherein it was decided that a conviction automatically triggered disqualification.

“The schedule for elections to the vacant Senate seat has already been issued,” Awan told the court, adding that approaching the judiciary just a day before polling was “unjustified.”

The LHC maintained that the Senate elections would go ahead as planned while the case continues.