ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court on Friday ordered a regulator to issue a schedule for general elections tonight and suspended a Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling that had stayed the appointment of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy.
The development comes a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) paused, following the Lahore High Court verdict, a training session for ROs and DROs, an exercise without which polls scheduled for Feb. 8 could be delayed. The move had led to widespread media speculation elections would not be held in time as the election regulator needs to issue the elections schedule by Friday night in order for political parties to have a 54-day window for electioneering.
“Do your job,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa ordered the ECP on Friday, suspending the Lahore High Court order. “Issue the elections schedule tonight ... We will not allow anybody to derail the democracy.”
In the evening, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja held a detailed meeting with the chief justice and other judges of the Supreme Court to reportedly discuss the Lahore High Court directive and ensuing situation. Later, the ECP filed a petition in the top court seeking an annulment of the Lahore High Court’s judgment.
The court also issued a contempt notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Barrister Umair Khan Niazi who had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking the appointment of returning officers from the judiciary. The ECP has appointed over one thousand returning officers across the country to conduct the national polls. Their job is to ensure that the election process is administered effectively to ensure free and fair elections.
The top court later stopped the Lahore High Court from further hearings on the plea, saying it had passed the judgment in ‘undue haste,’ and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite time.
A caretaker government under interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is running the country until the national election is held and a winning party can secure a parliamentary majority and select a new prime minister.
As it stands, questions surround the legitimacy of the election, whenever it is held, as former prime minister Imran Khan, the main opposition leader and arguably the country’s most popular politician, cannot fight this election.
Khan is currently jailed for three years after being convicted on graft charges and is barred from contesting any elections for five years.
His party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won the last general election in 2018, and he became prime minister until his ouster in a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022.
Pakistan’s top court directs regulator to issue general election schedule tonight
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Pakistan’s top court directs regulator to issue general election schedule tonight
- Supreme Court order puts an end to speculations regarding delay in holding of general elections
- Bars Lahore High Court from further hearings of plea on appointment of returning officers from judiciary
Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe
- Pakistan enter the tournament as U19 Asia Cup champions after beating India by 191 runs in Dubai
- The tri-series is seen as key preparation for next month’s U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team will begin their tri-series campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday in Harare, using the tournament as a key preparation for next month’s ICC Men’s U19 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Pakistan, the reigning ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup champions, are competing in the 50-over tri-series alongside Afghanistan and hosts Zimbabwe, with each team playing the others twice before the top two advance to the final on Jan. 6.
Pakistan won the eight-team Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month, beating India by 191 runs in the final, and will play a minimum of four matches in the tri-series, starting at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
“The Asia Cup was a good win for us and the players showed great morale and intensity,” Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf said, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “The tri-series is very important for the players and will help us find the right combinations ahead of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.”
Pakistan will face Zimbabwe on Dec. 29 before meeting Afghanistan again on Jan. 2, followed by a second match against the hosts on Jan. 4. Matches will be played across venues in Harare, including Harare Sports Club, Prince Edward School and Sunrise Sports Club.
The tri-series is being seen as an important warm-up ahead of the U19 World Cup, which will be held from Jan. 15 to Feb. 6. Pakistan are placed in Group C and will play all their group-stage matches in Harare.
“The conditions here are similar and will be beneficial for our World Cup preparations,” Yousaf said. “Both teams in the tournament are strong and competitive and we respect every opposition as we look forward to a competitive event.”
Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against England on Jan. 16, followed by matches against Scotland and Zimbabwe, with the Super Six stage beginning on Jan. 25 and the final scheduled for Feb. 6 at Harare Sports Club.
