The Lahore High Court (LHC) Tuesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide the pending petitions of the PTI and the PML-N regarding the non-issuance of a notification of five MPAs on the reserved seats in Punjab Assembly by June 2, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

While hearing petitions against the non-issuance of the notification of Punjab MPAs on the reserved seats, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti directed the ECP to decide the petition even if no one appeared.

The LHC chief justice heard the petitions including that of PTI leader Sibtain Khan.

Punjab Election Commissioner Saeed Gul Khan appeared before the court.

Law officers including Hafiz Adeel Ashraf from the ECP also appeared before the court.

“Explain! Why did you not issue the notification?” the chief justice asked from DG Law of the ECP.

“We are issuing the notification. Petitions have been received from the PTI and the PML-N only after the de-seating of the members. The date for decision on these petitions is June 2,” DG Law of the ECP told the court.

“The ECP has been made a party in the petitions. Notices were issued to hear both the parties. June 2 has been fixed for hearing of the issue,” he added.

Lawyer of the PTI, however, blamed the ECP for deliberately delaying issuance of the notification of Punjab MPAs on the reserved seats.

After listening to the arguments of the ECP and the PTI’s lawyer, the LHC chief justice directed the ECP to decide the issue by June 2 as per the law.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf