The Lahore High Court on Wednesday suspended the upcoming election scheduled for September 10 in NA-175, following an appeal against the disqualification of politician Jamshed Dasti.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the decision was made by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum and comprising Justice Khalid Ishaq and Justice Hasan Nawaz Makhdoom.
The bench heard the petition challenging the Election Commission's verdict that disqualified Jamshed Dasti from contesting in NA-175 due to an alleged fake educational degree.
During the proceedings, the court also issued a notice under Article 27-A to the Attorney General for Pakistan in the disqualification case.
Dasti appeared in court alongside his legal team, with Advocate Ishtiaq A Khan presenting arguments on his behalf. The court took notice of the matter and granted interim relief, thereby halting the scheduled by-election on September 10.
After the hearing, outside the court, Jamshed Dasti spoke to the media, expressing frustration over what he called unjust treatment by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“The circumstances are tough, but Allah has blessed me with dignity,” he said. Dasti alleged that the Election Commission has wronged him, but he remains hopeful that the courts will ultimately deliver justice.
“I’ve been elected to the National Assembly five times,” he said. “And my biggest crime, apparently, is that I stand with Imran Khan.” Dasti maintained that the allegations against him were baseless and politically motivated.
He added that he was never summoned or given a hearing opportunity, stating, “National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq should have called me and listened to me, but instead, only fake propaganda was spread about me on social media.”