The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday was petitioned to postpone the holding of elections in Lahore's NA-127 constituency, the seat from which PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz was contesting before she was disqualified by an accountability court in the Avenfield corruption reference..

Voter Imran Butt submitted an application through his counsel requesting the court to postpone the election in NA-127, arguing that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had postponed elections in NA-60 after PML-N candidate Hanif Abbasi was disqualified and sent to jail by a special court a few days earlier.

He added that Maryam had also been disqualified but the election was still going to be held in the constituency. The petitioner argued that as per the Constitution, all citizens are equal in eyes of the law, but Maryam was being discriminated against by the ECP, and pleaded with the court to postpone the election in NA-127.

On Sunday, the ECP had announced that the NA-60 polls had been postponed after Abbasi's disqualification. It said that as preparations for the elections were in their final stages, the ballot papers for the constituency already had Abbasi's election symbol printed on them.

The ECP had said that as it is "bound to provide a level playing field to all candidates [...] the general election in NA-60 is postponed and will be conducted after the scheduled general elections, along with other postponed elections".

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram ‘roadmap’
Updated 25 Dec, 2024

Kurram ‘roadmap’

The state must provide ironclad guarantees that the local population will be protected from all forms of terrorism.
Snooping state
25 Dec, 2024

Snooping state

THE state’s attempts to pry into citizens’ internet activities continue apace. The latest in this regard is a...
A welcome first step
25 Dec, 2024

A welcome first step

THE commencement of a dialogue between the PTI and the coalition parties occupying the treasury benches in ...
High troop losses
Updated 24 Dec, 2024

High troop losses

Continuing terror attacks show that our counterterrorism measures need a revamp. Localised IBOs appear to be a sound and available option.
Energy conundrum
24 Dec, 2024

Energy conundrum

THE onset of cold weather in the country has brought with it a familiar woe: a severe shortage of piped gas for...
Positive cricket change
24 Dec, 2024

Positive cricket change

HEADING into their Champions Trophy title defence, Pakistan are hitting the right notes. Mohammad Rizwan’s charges...